# Transact-SQL

> Microsoft's and Sybase's proprietary extension to SQL (Structured Query Language) used to interact with relational databases

**Wikidata**: [Q1411245](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1411245)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transact-SQL)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/transact-sql

## Summary
Transact-SQL is Microsoft's and Sybase's proprietary extension to SQL (Structured Query Language) used to interact with relational databases. It extends standard SQL with additional procedural programming capabilities, transaction control, and error handling features specifically designed for Microsoft and Sybase database systems.

## Key Facts
- Transact-SQL is classified as a programming language instance following the procedural programming paradigm
- It was created by Microsoft and Sybase as a proprietary extension to standard SQL
- The language has multiple aliases including T-SQL, TSQL, and Transact SQL
- Transact-SQL has 21 sitelinks across Wikipedia editions in 10 languages including Arabic, Czech, German, English, Spanish, Persian, French, Hebrew, Indonesian, and Icelandic
- Documentation is available at https://www.tsql.info/ in English
- Files use the Transact-SQL file format for both reading and writing operations
- The Microsoft Academic ID (discontinued) for Transact-SQL is 2776160709
- The language has a Stack Exchange tag at https://stackoverflow.com/tags/tsql
- Transact-SQL is recognized with a Freebase ID of /m/01r6k0

## FAQs
### Q: What is Transact-SQL used for?
A: Transact-SQL is used to interact with relational databases, providing procedural programming capabilities beyond standard SQL. It enables complex database operations, transaction control, and error handling specifically for Microsoft and Sybase database systems.

### Q: How does Transact-SQL differ from standard SQL?
A: Transact-SQL extends standard SQL with additional procedural programming features, enhanced transaction control mechanisms, and more comprehensive error handling capabilities. These extensions make it possible to write more complex database operations than what's possible with basic SQL alone.

### Q: Who developed Transact-SQL?
A: Transact-SQL was developed jointly by Microsoft and Sybase as their proprietary extension to the standard SQL language.

### Q: Is Transact-SQL still widely used?
A: Yes, Transact-SQL remains the primary interface for working with Microsoft SQL Server and Sybase databases, which power countless business applications worldwide and make it an essential skill for database professionals.

## Why It Matters
Transact-SQL matters because it serves as the foundational language for interacting with Microsoft SQL Server and Sybase databases, systems that run critical business operations globally. By extending standard SQL with procedural programming capabilities, it enables developers to implement complex business logic directly within the database layer. Its transaction control features ensure data integrity during multi-step operations, while its error handling provides robustness in production environments. The language has fostered a specialized ecosystem of database professionals who master these features, making Transact-SQL expertise valuable in the job market. As the language evolves with new database versions, it continues to adapt to modern data processing needs while maintaining backward compatibility.

## Notable For
- Joint development by Microsoft and Sybase as a proprietary SQL extension
- Implementation of procedural programming paradigms within a relational database context
- Comprehensive transaction control mechanisms ensuring data integrity across complex operations
- Extensive multilingual documentation with Wikipedia editions in 10 languages
- Unique error handling capabilities beyond standard SQL for production environments

## Body
### Overview
Transact-SQL is Microsoft's and Sybase's proprietary extension to SQL (Structured Query Language) used to interact with relational databases. It functions as a programming language that extends standard SQL with additional procedural capabilities.

### Technical Classification
- Instance of: Programming language
- Programming Paradigm: Procedural programming
- Aliases: T-SQL, Transact-SQL, TSQL, Transact SQL
- Readable File Format: Transact-SQL file format
- Writable File Format: Transact-SQL file format

### Online Presence
- Wikipedia Title: Transact-SQL
- Wikipedia Languages: ar, cs, de, en, es, fa, fr, he, id, is
- Website: https://www.tsql.info/ (English language)
- Stack Exchange Tag: https://stackoverflow.com/tags/tsql
- Quora Topic: Transact-SQL, Transact-Sql
- Site Link Count: 21

### Identifiers
- Freebase ID: /m/01r6k0
- FactGrid Item ID: Pleurozia
- Microsoft Academic ID (discontinued): 2776160709
- NLM CR Aut ID: ph397753 (with qualifier "Transact SQL (dotazovací jazyk)")

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
2. Quora
3. FactGrid