{
 "categories": [
  "database",
  "enterprise"
 ],
 "deployment": "hybrid",
 "evidence": [
  {
   "date": "2026-09-03",
   "fact": "homepage",
   "note": "Microsoft presents SQL Server 2025 as the commercial enterprise database, with paid Enterprise and Standard editions plus free Developer and Express SKUs, Azure Arc pay-as-you-go, and a licensing guide.",
   "source": "https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/sql-server",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-03",
   "fact": "license",
   "note": "The product page documents edition pricing, a SQL Server 2025 licensing guide, Software Assurance, and pay-as-you-go via Azure Arc. This is a commercial engine family, not an open-source license.",
   "source": "https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/sql-server",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-03",
   "fact": "modalities.api.exists",
   "note": "Microsoft states that T-SQL is central to using Microsoft SQL products and that all tools and applications that communicate with a SQL Server database do so by sending T-SQL commands.",
   "source": "https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/t-sql/language-reference?view=sql-server-ver17",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-03",
   "fact": "modalities.api.kinds[0]",
   "note": "The Tabular Data Stream protocol versions 7 and 8 is the application-layer request/response protocol for authentication, SQL requests including bulk insert, RPC, result return, and transaction-manager requests. The JDBC driver page states it talks TDS directly.",
   "source": "https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/openspecs/windows_protocols/ms-tds/1ef08b76-1594-40cf-8ce0-d2407133dd3d",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-03",
   "fact": "modalities.api.kinds[1]",
   "note": "Microsoft documents the Azure SQL Database REST API for managing Azure SQL Database resources. The operations list is GET https://management.azure.com/providers/Microsoft.Sql/operations?api-version=2025-01-01.",
   "source": "https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/rest/api/sql/?view=rest-sql-2025-01-01",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-03",
   "fact": "modalities.api.auth[0]",
   "note": "Windows Authentication is always available. SQL Server validates the Windows principal token and does not collect a SQL password. Microsoft calls this the default and more secure mode.",
   "source": "https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/relational-databases/security/choose-an-authentication-mode?view=sql-server-ver17",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-03",
   "fact": "modalities.api.auth[1]",
   "note": "SQL Server Authentication uses logins and passwords created and stored in SQL Server. Mixed mode enables it alongside Windows Authentication.",
   "source": "https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/relational-databases/security/choose-an-authentication-mode?view=sql-server-ver17",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-03",
   "fact": "modalities.api.auth[2]",
   "note": "Microsoft documents Microsoft Entra authentication for Azure SQL Database, Managed Instance, SQL Server on Azure VMs, Synapse SQL, and SQL Server on Windows and Linux, including users, groups, service principals, and managed identities.",
   "source": "https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/authentication-aad-overview?view=azuresql",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-03",
   "fact": "modalities.api.auth[3]",
   "note": "The Azure SQL REST operations list documents azure_auth as Azure Active Directory OAuth2 with user_impersonation against login.microsoftonline.com. This authenticates the management plane, not TDS table access.",
   "source": "https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/rest/api/sql/operations/list?view=rest-sql-2025-01-01",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-03",
   "fact": "modalities.api.coverage",
   "note": "T-SQL covers SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE and the wider statement reference across SQL Server and Azure SQL family products, with per-article Applies to labels. Azure REST covers resource management only. T-SQL surface still differs by edition.",
   "source": "https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/t-sql/language-reference?view=sql-server-ver17",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-03",
   "fact": "modalities.api.docs",
   "note": "Opened as Microsoft's current Transact-SQL reference for the Database Engine, including SSMS, the MSSQL VS Code extension, SSDT, and sqlcmd as tools that issue T-SQL.",
   "source": "https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/t-sql/language-reference?view=sql-server-ver17",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-03",
   "fact": "modalities.sdk.exists",
   "note": "Microsoft publishes official connection modules for SQL Server, Azure SQL Database, Fabric SQL, and Azure SQL Managed Instance on Linux, macOS, and Windows.",
   "source": "https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/connect/sql-connection-libraries?view=sql-server-ver17",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-03",
   "fact": "modalities.sdk.languages[0]",
   "note": "Microsoft.Data.SqlClient is the current official .NET data provider for SQL Server, generally available at version 7.0 on the opened page.",
   "source": "https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/connect/ado-net/introduction-microsoft-data-sqlclient-namespace?view=sql-server-ver17",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-03",
   "fact": "modalities.sdk.languages[1]",
   "note": "The Microsoft JDBC Driver for SQL Server is a Type 4 driver that talks TDS directly and connects Java applications to Azure SQL, Fabric SQL, Managed Instance, and supported SQL Server editions.",
   "source": "https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/connect/jdbc/microsoft-jdbc-driver-for-sql-server?view=sql-server-ver17",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-03",
   "fact": "modalities.sdk.languages[2]",
   "note": "Microsoft lists mssql-python as the official Python driver download on the connection-libraries page.",
   "source": "https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/connect/sql-connection-libraries?view=sql-server-ver17",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-03",
   "fact": "modalities.sdk.languages[3]",
   "note": "Microsoft lists the Go MSSQL driver (go-mssqldb) as the official Go driver download on the connection-libraries page.",
   "source": "https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/connect/sql-connection-libraries?view=sql-server-ver17",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-03",
   "fact": "modalities.sdk.official",
   "note": "The connection-libraries page is Microsoft's official driver catalogue for relational access to Microsoft SQL Database.",
   "source": "https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/connect/sql-connection-libraries?view=sql-server-ver17",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-03",
   "fact": "modalities.cli.exists",
   "note": "sqlcmd is the official utility for Transact-SQL statements, system procedures, and script files. Variants are sqlcmd (Go) and sqlcmd (ODBC), both documented for Windows, macOS, Linux, and containers.",
   "source": "https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/tools/sqlcmd/sqlcmd-utility?view=sql-server-ver17",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-03",
   "fact": "modalities.extensibility.scripting[0]",
   "note": "T-SQL is the language used to administer the engine, manage objects, and read and write data.",
   "source": "https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/t-sql/language-reference?view=sql-server-ver17",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-03",
   "fact": "modalities.extensibility.scripting[1]",
   "note": "TDS specifies invocation of a stored procedure or user-defined function as a remote procedure call.",
   "source": "https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/openspecs/windows_protocols/ms-tds/1ef08b76-1594-40cf-8ce0-d2407133dd3d",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-03",
   "fact": "modalities.data_access.export[0]",
   "note": "TDS returns data from SQL requests and stored-procedure calls to the client.",
   "source": "https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/openspecs/windows_protocols/ms-tds/1ef08b76-1594-40cf-8ce0-d2407133dd3d",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-03",
   "fact": "modalities.data_access.export[1]",
   "note": "The ODBC driver ships bcp, which bulk copies data from SQL Server to a data file in a chosen format.",
   "source": "https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/connect/odbc/microsoft-odbc-driver-for-sql-server?view=sql-server-ver17",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-03",
   "fact": "modalities.data_access.import[0]",
   "note": "Common T-SQL statements include INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE for writing data.",
   "source": "https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/t-sql/language-reference?view=sql-server-ver17",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-03",
   "fact": "modalities.data_access.import[1]",
   "note": "bcp can import many new rows into SQL Server tables from a data file.",
   "source": "https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/connect/odbc/microsoft-odbc-driver-for-sql-server?view=sql-server-ver17",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-03",
   "fact": "modalities.agent_docs.llms_txt",
   "note": "https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/llms.txt returned HTTP 404 on 2026-09-03.",
   "source": "https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/llms.txt",
   "tier": "scraped"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-03",
   "fact": "verdict.scores.api",
   "note": "TDS/T-SQL is the maintained product interface with official drivers and Windows, SQL, and Entra authentication. Azure REST adds a documented management plane. Coverage is broad and practical rather than a single complete surface across every edition and both data and control planes, so the path is 8 rather than 9-10.",
   "source": "https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/t-sql/language-reference?view=sql-server-ver17",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-03",
   "fact": "verdict.scores.cli",
   "note": "sqlcmd is official, non-interactive, scriptable, and supports Microsoft Entra via -G. Go and ODBC variants differ, and structured JSON output is not the primary contract, so CLI matches the broad-and-practical 8 band rather than unusual completeness.",
   "source": "https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/tools/sqlcmd/sqlcmd-utility?view=sql-server-ver17",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-03",
   "fact": "freshness.watch[0].url",
   "note": "Opened and verified as the current SQL Server technical documentation hub, including T-SQL, sqlcmd/PowerShell, Azure SQL family, and a SQL MCP Server link that is Data API builder.",
   "source": "https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/sql-server/sql-server-technical-documentation",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-03",
   "fact": "freshness.watch[1].url",
   "note": "Opened and verified as the current Transact-SQL reference hub.",
   "source": "https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/t-sql/language-reference?view=sql-server-ver17",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-03",
   "fact": "freshness.watch[2].url",
   "note": "Opened and verified as the current sqlcmd utility reference, including Go/ODBC variants and Microsoft Entra -G.",
   "source": "https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/tools/sqlcmd/sqlcmd-utility?view=sql-server-ver17",
   "tier": "declared"
  },
  {
   "date": "2026-09-03",
   "fact": "freshness.watch[3].url",
   "note": "Opened and verified as Data API builder's SQL MCP Server overview. It is a different product from the SQL Server engine and must not be scored as first-party engine MCP.",
   "source": "https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/mcp/overview",
   "tier": "declared"
  }
 ],
 "freshness": {
  "last_verified": "2026-09-03",
  "volatility": "medium",
  "watch": [
   {
    "type": "docs",
    "url": "https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/sql-server/sql-server-technical-documentation"
   },
   {
    "type": "docs",
    "url": "https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/t-sql/language-reference?view=sql-server-ver17"
   },
   {
    "type": "docs",
    "url": "https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/tools/sqlcmd/sqlcmd-utility?view=sql-server-ver17"
   },
   {
    "type": "docs",
    "url": "https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-api-builder/mcp/overview"
   }
  ]
 },
 "homepage": "https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/sql-server",
 "id": "sql-server",
 "license": "commercial",
 "modalities": {
  "agent_docs": {
   "llms_txt": false
  },
  "api": {
   "auth": [
    "windows-authentication",
    "sql-server-authentication",
    "microsoft-entra-id",
    "azure-ad-oauth2"
   ],
   "coverage": "partial",
   "docs": "https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/t-sql/language-reference?view=sql-server-ver17",
   "exists": true,
   "kinds": [
    "tds",
    "rest"
   ]
  },
  "cli": {
   "exists": true
  },
  "computer_use": {
   "issues": [],
   "viability": "unknown"
  },
  "data_access": {
   "export": [
    "result-sets",
    "bcp"
   ],
   "import": [
    "t-sql",
    "bcp"
   ]
  },
  "extensibility": {
   "scripting": [
    "t-sql",
    "stored-procedures"
   ],
   "webhooks": "unknown"
  },
  "integrations": {
   "make": "unknown",
   "n8n": "unknown",
   "power_automate": "unknown",
   "zapier": "unknown"
  },
  "mcp": {
   "first_party": "unknown",
   "third_party": [],
   "verdict": "unknown"
  },
  "rpa": {
   "drivability": "unknown",
   "notes": "No repeatable UI probe was run. SQL Server Management Studio is a Windows GUI. The documented machine paths are TDS/T-SQL through official drivers, sqlcmd, and the Azure SQL Database REST management API. Browser or SSMS UI automation is not the supported path.\n",
   "ui_stack": [
    "ssms"
   ],
   "vendor_support": []
  },
  "sdk": {
   "exists": true,
   "languages": [
    "dotnet",
    "java",
    "python",
    "go"
   ],
   "official": true
  }
 },
 "name": "Microsoft SQL Server",
 "platforms": [
  "windows",
  "linux",
  "macos",
  "web"
 ],
 "related": {
  "alternatives": [
   "neon",
   "mongodb",
   "redis",
   "snowflake",
   "databricks"
  ],
  "our_products": []
 },
 "schema_version": 1,
 "score_version": 1,
 "status": "active",
 "vendor": "Microsoft",
 "verdict": {
  "best_path": "api",
  "scores": {
   "api": 8,
   "cli": 8,
   "computer_use": null,
   "integrations": null,
   "mcp": null,
   "overall": 8,
   "rpa": null
  },
  "summary": "Microsoft SQL Server is automatable today through the Tabular Data Stream protocol and Transact-SQL, which Microsoft states every tool and application uses to talk to a SQL Server database. Official drivers include Microsoft.Data.SqlClient, JDBC, ODBC, OLE DB, mssql-python, and go-mssqldb. Authentication modes documented on the opened pages are Windows Authentication, SQL Server Authentication, and Microsoft Entra ID, including managed identities and service principals on Azure SQL. sqlcmd is the official CLI, with Go and ODBC variants on Windows, macOS, and Linux, script files, and -G Microsoft Entra sign-in. A separate Azure SQL Database REST API at management.azure.com manages servers and databases with Azure AD OAuth2; that plane does not query table data. The Learn hub link titled SQL MCP Server is Data API builder 1.7+, a different product, and is not a native SQL Server engine MCP. First-party engine MCP ownership is not established. License is commercial; Express and Developer editions are free SKUs of that commercial family, not an open-source engine. Neon, MongoDB, Redis, Snowflake, and Databricks are outside this record. Computer-use viability is unassessed. API and CLI both score 8; API is the best path because TDS/T-SQL is the contract sqlcmd and every official driver already speak.\n"
 }
}