Azure SQL Database documentation
Azure SQL Database is a general-purpose relational database-as-a-service (DBaaS) based on the latest stable version of Microsoft SQL Server Database Engine. SQL Database is a high-performance, reliable, and secure cloud database that you can use to build data-driven applications and websites in the programming language of your choice, without needing to manage infrastructure. Learn how to use SQL Database with our quickstarts, tutorials, and samples.
Concepts
Learn about the main values that a platform-as-a-service database brings to you, and about the purchasing models and service tiers you can leverage to get the best price/performance configuration.
Overview
PaaS database that's always running on the latest stable version of SQL Server Database Engine and patched OS with 99.99% availability.
Pricing models
Tailor price/performance ratio to your needs with flexible service tiers that span from affordable $5/month to powerful 80-core databases.
Service tiers
Choose a service tier and cloud architecture that best fits your needs or matches the infrastructure that you use in your on-premises environment.
Scalability
Easily scale up, scale out, or shard your databases depending on your needs to improve your application performance.
Platform as a Service
Built-in high-availability, automated backups, and geo-replication prevent maintenance operations and infrastructure or hardware failures from stopping your business.
Advanced security
Secure your database with Azure AD authentication, virtual networks, firewalls, and Always Encrypted connections. Identify threats and vulnerabilities through built-in security.
Deployment models
Choose the deployment model that fits your needs: a single database is the best choice for new modern cloud applications, elastic pools are the best place to host a large fleet of databases, and a managed instance provides high compatibility with SQL Server and enables easy migration to the cloud.
Single database
Use a single database managed by a SQL Database server for your SaaS applications and microservices that need a single database with predictable performances.
Elastic pools
SQL Database elastic pools are a simple, cost-effective solution for managing and scaling multiple databases that have varying and unpredictable usage demands.
Managed instance
Use a managed instance to get a fully managed SQL Server Database Engine instance hosted in the Azure cloud, with minimal or no database code changes needed for migration from on-premises databases.
Instance pool
Use managed instance pools as a simple and cost-effective solution for deploying multiple managed instances that share resources and quickly scale.
5-Minute Quickstarts
Azure SQL Database enables you to easily perform basic management tasks using the Azure portal, the Azure CLI, and Azure PowerShell. Learn how to perform basic management tasks using the following quickstart samples:
 The Azure portal |  Azure CLI |  PowerShell |  Azure Resource Manager template | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Create single database | ||||
| Create elastic pool | ||||
| Create managed instance | ||||
| Create instance pool |
Step-by-Step Tutorials and learning materials
Learn how to create, manage, and migrate databases using SQL Database
- Learn how to decide if SQL Server on VM (IaaS) or Azure SQL Database (PaaS) is the right choice for your workload.
- Learn what features are supported in Azure SQL Database and the behavior differences.
- Get started with a single database and a managed instance using our quickstart guides.
- Create and design the schema for a new single database using SSMS or .NET
- Migrate an existing database to Azure using a native SQL Server backup file, the Database Migration Assistant, or by importing a BACPAC file.
- Secure your SQL Database
- Distribute your data globally using a geo-distributed database.
- Find new features in Azure SQL Database.
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Samples
Find scripts to manage common tasks.