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Carlos Robles edited this page Feb 21, 2026 · 21 revisions

MSSQL extension for Visual Studio Code

The MSSQL Extension for Visual Studio Code is designed to empower developers by providing a seamless and modern database development experience. Our goal is to make SQL development more productive and intuitive by integrating essential features such as schema management, query execution, and AI-powered assistance.

Explore and Learn

General Availability Features

  • Connect to your databases: Seamlessly manage your database connections
    • Connect to SQL database in Fabric, Azure SQL, and SQL Server using a user-friendly interface
    • Use an intuitive Connection Dialog to enter parameters, paste a connection string, or browse Azure resources
    • Access recent connections quickly from a dedicated panel
    • Use Microsoft Entra ID authentication for secure access
    • Manage multiple connection profiles for different environments
    • Reconnect to frequently used databases in just a few clicks
    • Organize your connections into color-coded groups to manage local, staging, and production environments side by side
  • Execute queries and View Results: Run your scripts and view results in a simple, yet powerful, grid with improved data visualization features:
    • View results in a unified interface alongside the integrated terminal and output panels or in their own tab
    • Sort results by clicking on column headers
    • Easily copy results with or without headers for use in other applications
    • Export results to multiple formats, including JSON, Excel, and CSV
    • Enhanced experience with live execution timing summary metrics and stability improvements on large result sets
    • View estimated plan and actual plan for T-SQL queries
  • Enhanced T-SQL Editing Experience: Write T-SQL scripts with a range of powerful features, including:
    • IntelliSense for faster and more accurate coding
    • Go to Definition for exploring database objects
    • T-SQL snippets to speed up repetitive tasks
    • Syntax colorizations and T-SQL error validations
    • Support for the GO batch separator
  • Object Explorer: Navigate and manage your database structure with ease
    • Browse databases, tables, views, and programmability objects
    • Expand or collapse objects to explore hierarchy visually
    • Use enhanced filters to quickly locate items by name, owner, or creation date
    • Streamline development in large databases with fast object access
  • Table Designer: A visual tool for creating and managing tables in your databases. Design every aspect of the table's structure, including:
    • Adding columns, setting data types, and specifying default values
    • Defining primary keys and managing indexes to improve query performance
    • Setting up foreign keys to maintain data integrity across tables
    • Configuring advanced options like check constraints
    • Automatically generate T-SQL scripts for your table design and apply changes directly to the database
  • Query Plan Visualizer: Analyze SQL query performance with detailed execution plans. Key features include:
    • Interact with each step in the execution plan, including collapsing or expanding nodes for a simplified view
    • Zoom in or out to adjust the level of detail, or use "zoom to fit" for a complete view of the plan
    • Highlight key performance indicators, such as elapsed time or subtree cost, to identify bottlenecks in query execution
  • Local SQL Server Containers
    • Create and manage SQL Server containers locally without Docker commands
    • Use SQL Server 2025 by default with vector and AI-ready features
    • Auto-connect with a ready-to-use connection profile
    • Start, stop, restart, or delete containers from the connection panel
    • Automatic port conflict detection and resolution
    • Customize container name, hostname, port, and version
  • Schema Designer: Visual schema modeling and editing—code-free
    • Design, view, and manage database schemas using an intuitive drag-and-drop GUI
    • Add or modify tables, columns, primary keys, and foreign key relationships without writing T-SQL
    • Preview schema changes instantly as read-only T-SQL in the built-in code pane
    • Navigate large schemas easily with search, mini-map, zoom, and auto-layout
    • Filter by table name or relationship to focus on specific areas of your schema
    • Export diagrams to share with your team or include in documentation
    • Push updates to your database using the built-in deployment
  • Schema Compare: Effortless schema synchronization and management
    • Compare schemas between two databases, DACPAC files, or SQL projects and see additions, removals, and modifications at a glance
    • Filter and exclude specific differences before syncing
    • Apply changes directly or generate a deployment script for later use
    • Save comparisons to rerun or audit schema changes
  • GitHub Copilot Integration: Boost your productivity with AI-assisted SQL development
    • Chat with @mssql using natural language to generate queries, explain stored procedures, scaffold schemas, and debug SQL issues with database-aware context
    • Intelligent code completions and inline suggestions while coding, with support for popular ORMs and T-SQL
    • Query optimization with AI recommendations to refactor slow queries, fine-tune indexes, and understand execution plans
    • Generate mock and test data automatically with sample data and seeding scripts
    • Identify risky patterns such as SQL injection and over-permissive roles, with suggestions for safer alternatives
    • Explain complex stored procedures, views, and functions in plain language—perfect for onboarding and code reviews
  • GitHub Copilot Agent Mode: Let Copilot perform database tasks on your behalf
    • Securely executes actions like connecting, switching databases, or running queries directly from chat
    • Surfaces schema details and connection info without manual navigation
    • Provides a confirmable, AI-driven assistant for common database workflows
    • Access all approved Agent tools from the Tools panel
  • GitHub Copilot Slash Commands: Quick, discoverable shortcuts in chat
    • Type / to see commands like /connect, /changeDatabase, /runQuery, /explain, /fix, /optimize, and more
    • Connection commands open the MSSQL connection panel; query commands accept input and return results in chat
  • Customizable Extension Options: Configure command shortcuts, appearance, and other settings to personalize your development experience

Public Preview Features

  • Fabric Integration: Browse workspaces and provision SQL databases in Fabric directly from VS Code
    • Sign in with Microsoft Entra ID, browse workspaces, search, and connect to SQL databases or SQL analytics endpoints from the Connection dialog (includes Open in MSSQL from the Fabric extension)
    • Create a SQL database from the Deployments page; capacity-aware and auto-connects when complete
  • View & Edit Data: Browse and modify table data directly within the editor without writing DML statements
    • Inline editing with real-time validation that highlights errors and displays helpful messages for incorrect inputs
    • Add and delete rows, navigate large datasets with pagination controls, and save all changes together with a read-only DML script preview
  • Data-tier Application Export/Import: Easy-to-use wizard experience to deploy and extract dacpac files and import and export bacpac files
    • Deploy dacpac files to SQL Server instances, extract instances to dacpac files, and create databases or export schema and data to bacpac files
    • Simplifies development and deployment workflows for data-tier applications supporting your application
  • SQL Database Projects Publish Dialog: Streamlined deployment workflow for SQL Database Projects
    • Redesigned to guide users through connection setup, script generation, and deployment in fewer steps
    • Unified UI for SQL Server and Azure SQL projects, reducing confusion and improving discoverability
    • Preview and validate generated scripts before deployment to ensure accuracy and control
    • Manage the full build-and-publish workflow within the SQL Database Projects extension, without switching tools

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