What is SQL Server Edition?

What is the difference between SQL Server Editions?

The most well known differences between SQL Express and other editions are the caps on database size (10GB) and lack of a SQL Agent feature. There are many other differences though, some of which can be extremely important for some application and architecture requirements.

What does SQL Server stand for?

SQL (pronounced "ess-que-el") stands for Structured Query Language. SQL is used to communicate with a database. According to ANSI (American National Standards Institute), it is the standard language for relational database management systems.

Which edition of SQL Server should I use?

You use Standard Edition – because it supports 128GB RAM (and can even go beyond that for some internal stuff like query plans.) You want to stay here until 2025-2026 – this version has more years left in its support life than SQL Server 2012/2014, so you can install it once and stick around longer.

What is SQL Server Free Edition?

SQL Server 2019 Express is a free edition of SQL Server, ideal for development and production for desktop, web, and small server applications.