Did you know SQL Server can serve no-boilerplate REST and GraphQL APIs directly from your tables? Or that the new vector data type enables semantic search and RAG patterns without leaving T-SQL? The SQL features in SQL Server 2025 and Azure SQL Database are designed for modern application development but can easily fly under the radar. Through a series of demos, we'll explore native JSON improvements, the vector data type for AI-powered search, zero-ETL replication to Microsoft Fabric, ledger tables for tamper-evident data, and more. Each demo highlights the benefits for new and existing applications, when Azure SQL offers capabilities ahead of on-prem, and the minimum version required. Whether you're building APIs, integrating AI, or modernizing your data platform, it's time to restock your developer toolkit.

You will learn:

• How to handle JSON, XML, and vector data with SQL for processing speed, storage, and development efficiency
• How to get a tamperproof database, graph database, and document DB without adding another service
• What features sound like they’re only for Azure but either can be hosted on-prem or connected to on-prem SQL Server