Free to download, free to redistribute, free to embed, and easy for new developers to use immediately, a simple but powerful development environment for building data-driven applications. Easily manage your database with SQL Server 2005 Management Studio Express.
Design schemas, add data, and query local databases, all inside the Visual Studio 2005 environment. For more advanced features, seamlessly upgrade to more sophisticated versions of SQL Server. As your needs grow, your applications will seamlessly work with the rest of the SQL Server product family.
The advanced query optimization engine of SQL Server 2005 delivers fast performance with full-text search. Load databases easily through the XCopy feature. Native XML support ensures that your Web environment can easily interoperate with other applications through Web services.
SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services provides a complete, server-based platform for creating, managing, and delivering traditional and interactive reports. Easily create sophisticated reports with tables, charts, and graphics, and then embed them in applications.
Configure SQL Server Express to dynamically tune database parameters to respond to changing usage characteristics. SQL Server Express delivers user updates directly using Microsoft Update, easily plugs in to most enterprise management environments, and supports either silent installs or GUI-based setup and installations.