What is SQL Server Transact-SQL (T-SQL)?

SQL Server Transact-SQL, also called T-SQL, is an extension of the standard SQL (Structured Query Language). Transact-SQL was developed by Microsoft and Sybase. Microsoft's implementation ships in the Microsoft SQL Server product. Sybase uses the language in its Adaptive Server Enterprise, the successor to Sybase SQL Server.

Transact-SQL is maintained by Microsoft and used as the primary language to interact with Microsoft SQL Server database.

Transact-SQL is also supported by Sybase database.

Comparing to the standard SQL, Transact-SQL is more powerful with these additional features:

• Control-of-flow language - Like BEGIN and END, BREAK, CONTINUE, GOTO, IF and ELSE, RETURN, WAITFOR, and WHILE statements.
• Local variables - Like DECLARE and SET statements
• Various support functions for string processing, date processing, mathematics, etc. - Like SIN(), ASIN(), LOG(), etc.
• Improvements to DELETE and UPDATE statements - Both the DELETE and UPDATE statements allow a FROM clause to be added which allows joins to be included.
• Procedural programming capabilities
• Transaction controls
• Error and exception handling
• Row processing
• BULK INSERT statement
• Additional date and time functions
• Additional mathematical functions

Transact-SQL versions match with SQL Server versions:

Name
--------------------------------
Transact-SQL for SQL Server 2016 
Transact-SQL for SQL Server 2014 
Transact-SQL for SQL Server 2012 
Transact-SQL for SQL Server 2008 
Transact-SQL for SQL Server 2005 
Transact-SQL for SQL Server 2000 

⇒General Questions on Microsoft SQL Server Transact-SQL

⇒⇒SQL Server Transact-SQL Tutorials