What is the difference between named instance and instance ID?

What is a named instance?

A named instance is identified by the network name of the computer plus the instance name that you specify during installation. The client must specify both the server name and the instance name when connecting. By default, SQL Server installs in the default instance unless you specify an instance name.

What is the difference between default and named instance?

Definition. A default instance is a type of instance that is used when installing a single instance of SQL server. In contrast, a named instance is a type of instance where the user specifies an instance name when installing the instance.

What is a named SQL instance?

Microsoft SQL Server (MS-SQL) has a feature called named instances. This feature allows you to run multiple databases on the same host (or clustered hosts) with separate settings. Each db (database) instance runs on its own port.

Is server name and instance name the same?

Server name is your machine name; instance name is the same with server name when sql server is installed as a default instance and has got "computer_name\instance_name" name when sql has been installed as a named instance.