SQL Server codenames by year, from SQL95 and Hydra to Sphinx, Shiloh, Yukon and Katmai, with the version number for each release.
SQL Server emergency? Email pinal@sqlauthority.com with URGENT in the subject line.
SQL Server Permissions Without the Guesswork
Understand SQL Server permissions through principals, securables, roles, and ownership chains, then inspect what the current account can do.
SQLAuthority News – 1 Million Visitors in last 1 year – [Update 2019]
It is indeed a bit day for me. I am very happy that I have 1 million visitors in just last 1 year. Read my story of 365 days.
Handling Time Zones in SQL Server
Handling time zones in SQL Server means storing an instant, converting with AT TIME ZONE, and testing daylight saving gaps.
Keyset Pagination: Next and Previous Pages Without OFFSET
Build keyset pagination with a matching index, unique tie breaker, next and previous queries, and a fair deep-page comparison with OFFSET.
ASCII Versus UNICODE: Inspect the First Character
ASCII versus UNICODE asks different representation questions. Compare a first UTF-8 byte with a code point while preserving the complete input.
Explaining a Query Plan to a Developer
Explaining a query plan starts with the costly work, checks estimates against actual rows, and turns findings into a clear code decision.
SQL Server slow? Let's fix it together in about four hours.
In my Comprehensive Database Performance Health Check, you share your screen, I guide you, and we fix your biggest performance troublemakers. No passwords. No remote access.
You keep every script, and the know-how to fix it yourself next time.
Want your whole team to learn it?
My Practical Workshop has no PowerPoint, just live demos. My AI Enablement Workshop shows your team where AI saves hours, and where it quietly costs them.
Over 400 customers have worked with me this way, and not one shared a password. See all consulting options.
Who We Are
Pinal Dave is an SQL Server Performance Tuning Expert and independent consultant with over 24 years of hands-on experience. He holds a Masters of Science degree and numerous database certifications.
Pinal has authored 19 books and 120 Pluralsight courses. To freely share his knowledge and help others build their expertise, Pinal has also written more than 5,800 database tech articles on his blog at https://blog.sqlauthority.com.
Pinal is also a CrossFit Level 1 Trainer (CF-L1) and CrossFit Level 2 Trainer (CF-L2).
Nupur Dave is a social media enthusiast and an independent consultant. She primarily focuses on the database domain, helping clients build short and long-term multi-channel campaigns to drive leads for their sales pipeline.
Shaivi Pinalkumar Dave is a book author and a women’s artistic gymnast.

