Microsoft SQL Server is a powerful relational database management system (RDBMS) developed by Microsoft, designed to handle a wide range of data management needs for businesses and developers. Launched in 1989 as a collaboration with Sybase, it has since evolved into a robust platform used globally for storing, retrieving, and managing structured data. SQL Server operates on the client-server model, allowing applications—running either locally or across networks—to interact with databases using Transact-SQL (T-SQL), Microsoft’s proprietary extension of the SQL language.