Transact-SQL in Visual Studio Code

Turn Visual Studio Code into a powerful editor for Transact-SQL (T-SQL) development, with the mssql extension available in the VS Code Marketplace. The mssql extension is optimized to work with SQL Server running on-premises, in any cloud, Azure SQL Database, and Azure SQL Data Warehouse.

Connect to SQL databases, type T-SQL code, execute T-SQL code, view results, and save results as JSON or CSV files. While typing T-SQL code, you get rich T-SQL language features like T-SQL IntelliSense (code completion), syntax highlighting, linting, code navigation and code snippets.

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Install T-SQL support

Add T-SQL language support to VS Code by installing the mssql extension from the VS Code marketplace as follows:

  1. Open the Extensions view from VS Code Side Bar (⇧⌘X (Windows, Linux Ctrl+Shift+X)).
  2. Type "mssql" in the search bar, click Install, and reload VS Code when prompted.

install mssql extension

Connect and Execute T-SQL

Easily connect to SQL Server running on-premises, in any cloud, Azure SQL Database, and Azure SQL Data Warehouse. Then, execute your T-SQL statements and batches to view results and messages - all within VS Code. Your recent connections are saved across sessions, so you can quickly connect to your databases again.

Execute T-SQL

View and Save Results

View results and messages when you execute your T-SQL code. Save results as a JSON or CSV file to use the data in your applications with just a few clicks.

Save T-SQL

T-SQL IntelliSense

As you type T-SQL code in the editor, VS Code provides intelligent code completion for T-SQL keywords, suggestions for schema object names (tables, columns, views), and parameter help for functions and procedures when connected to a database.

tsql intellisense

Linting

Linting is the analysis of your T-SQL code for potential syntax errors. Use Visual Studio Code to quickly navigate to the errors and warnings in your T-SQL code as you type.

tsql linting

Peek Definition/Go to Definition

Use Peek Definition or Go to Definition to quickly browse the definition of schema objects in your database such as tables, functions, and procedures while typing T-SQL code.

tsql peek definition

Snippets

T-SQL snippets provide code templates for commonly used T-SQL statements. Type "sql" to get the list of T-SQL snippets.

tsql snippets

Next steps

Further Reading