SQL Server 2005 Express Edition

Powerful and Easy

SQL Server 2005 Express Edition is the next version of MSDE and is a free, easy-to-use, lightweight, and embeddable version of SQL Server 2005. Continue reading to learn more about the benefits of SQL Server Express Edition and to download SQL Server Management Studio.

Easy to Use
Easy to Learn
Powerful
What's Next

Highlights

Ten Starter Database Schemas Now Available
Use these starter database schemas and the included tutorial to help you learn the basics of designing a database and extend them to suit your individual needs.
What is SQL Server Express Edition with Advanced Services?
The new SQL Server Express Edition with Advanced Services is perfect for use as a backend to a small, multi-user application that requires more advanced features such as Web reporting or full-text search. Discover which version of SQL Server Express is right for you.
Read the SQL Server Express Datasheet

Free download: SQL Server 2005 Express

Please take the time to register with us. You’ll receive:

Product updates and release notifications
Access to developer resources, how-to articles,
community forums and team blogs
Free SQL Server Express ebook, royalty-free images
and icons for inclusion in Windows and Web applications

(Download without registering)

Download and Upgrade to SQL Server 2008 Express

Easy to Use

Free to download, free to redistribute, free to embed, and easy for new developers to use immediately, SQL Server Express includes powerful features such as SQL Server Management Studio Express, for easily managing a database.

Fast to download

Compact download.
Get up and running in as little as 20 minutes.
Register SQL Server Express Edition.

Simplified administration

Automatically tune your database for optimal performance.
Use Microsoft Update to automatically receive the latest patches and updates, enabling a high level of security and the latest features.

Free management tool: SQL Server Management Studio

You can download the SQL Server Management Studio Express (separate download below), an easy and efficient management tool for SQL Server Express.
With SQL Server Management Studio you enjoy a consistent management experience across all SQL Server 2005 Editions.

Download SQL Server Management Studio Express

Seamless integration with Visual Studio Express Editions

Seamlessly integrated data experience for building Windows applications and Web sites.

Easy to deploy

Easily move or copy your SQL Server Express databases to another computer or hosted server using XCopy and ClickOnce deployment.

Top of Page

Easy to Learn

Get started fast

Starter Kits provide fully functional sample applications designed to help you learn.
Starter database schemas covering a wide-range of scenarios.

Get help fast

Take advantage of rich documentation, including samples and walkthroughs.
Access a vast community of experts via the online SQL Server Forums or Visual Studio Express Edition Forums.

Learning Express means you’re learning SQL Server

Learn skills that are entirely transferable to all other editions of SQL Server 2005.

Top of Page

Powerful

Full compatibility

Transfer any database created in SQL Express to other editions of SQL Server 2005.
Take comfort in knowing that the full power of SQL Server is available as your needs grow.
Create databases up to 4 GB in size.

Tight integration with Visual Studio

Create and deploy database code such as stored procedures, functions, user-defined types, and user-defined aggregates from directly within the Visual Studio development environment.
Use debugging that is seamless across the application and database.

Industry-leading data security

Maintain high levels of security by encrypting data directly in the database.
Use advanced auditing, authentication, and authorization capabilities.

Innovative features typically found in higher-end products

In addition to traditional T-SQL, use the Common Language Runtime (CLR) to write stored procedures and other database code in languages such as C#, Visual Basic, or managed C++.
Utilize native XML capabilities to help seamlessly connect internal and external systems.
Get data in and out of other systems quickly with Integration Services.
Maintain copies of data at multiple sites with SQL Server Express’ support for merging subscriptions, snapshot, and transactional publications.
Use full text search for powerful query capability over textual data.

Reporting Services

Simplify report creation, management, and delivery with the complete, server-based platform.
Embed sophisticated tables, charts, and graphics into applications.
Use with both traditional and interactive reports.

Top of Page

What's Next?

Are you wondering what to do now that you've installed SQL Server 2005 Express Edition? Then this page is for you!

Register
Register! You may wonder why there’s any benefit to registering, but the whole new Express suite of products (Visual Web Developer, Visual Basic, Visual C#, Visual C++, Visual J#) has lots of reasons. You'll get an assortment of 250 royalty-free images from Corbis for inclusion in your web sites and applications, selections of application components useful when you’re developing applications, and full-text electronic books and articles helpful to professional developers, hobbyists, and everyone in between. Registration is easy and only takes a few moments. No long forms or activation codes stand between you and your free benefits.
Join the community!
Look through the user forums, where you can browse for answers, ask questions, and post comments. Your feedback helps make the SQL Server products better. Let us know what you’re using SQL Server Express for and share helpful tools and information with fellow users. If you’re using SQL Server, join now!
Learn the basics.
There's lots of great information about SQL Server online for new developers. Resources for SQL Server Express contains links to online information, books, samples, demos, and more. Check out first steps like Writing SQL Server Queries, Securing Your SQL Server Express Database, and Web Development with SQL Server.
Get to work.
View the SQL Server demo and check out some sample SQL Server applications online over at Coding 4 Fun. You’ll find all sorts of ideas and creative applications. From web programming to game development, there’s sure to be something that strikes your fancy.