When formatting dates in SQL Server you may be wondering whether to use CONVERT() or CAST(). After all, both functions allow us to convert between data types. Let’s take a look at at these two functions and figure out when to use each one.
5 Ways of Checking the Existence of Temporary Tables in SQL Server
When working with temporary tables in SQL Server, one of the most common tasks is checking whether the table already exists before creating it. This prevents errors in the event the table already exists, and ensures your scripts run smoothly regardless of previous executions.
In this article, we’ll explore five different approaches to checking for temporary table existence in SQL Server.
Convert MMDDYYYY to DATE in SQL Server
Sometimes we get dates in a format that SQL Server has trouble with when we try to convert them to an actual DATE value. One example would be dates in MMDDYYYY format. While it might be easy to assume that SQL Server would be able to handle this easily, when we stop to think about it, this format is fraught with danger.
The MMDDYYYY format is ambiguous. While we might know that the first two digits are for the month, SQL Server doesn’t know this. Some countries/regions use the first two digits for the day (like DDMMYYYY). So if we get a date like, 01032025, how would SQL Server know whether it’s the first day of the third month, or the third day of the first month?
Formatting DATE as MMDDYYYY in SQL Server
In SQL Server, we have several options when it comes to formatting a DATE or DATETIME value as MMDDYYYY. The two most common functions for formatting dates like this are CONVERT() and FORMAT().
The Difference Between LIST_SELECT() and LIST_SLICE() in DuckDB
DuckDB has a list_select() function and a list_slice() function, and both do a similar thing. They allow us to extract values from lists based on their index in the list. But they’re quite different in the way they work. One function allows us to select elements based on a range, while the other function allows us to handpick each element we want returned.
Round vs Format in SQL Server: Which to Use for Decimal Precision?
When working with numbers in SQL Server, both ROUND() and FORMAT() can be used to round the numeric values to a given decimal precision. But that doesn’t mean we should use them interchangeably. Each function serves a different purpose and has its distinct use cases.
How to Find Users Connected to SQL Server (T-SQL)
Checking which users are connected to a SQL Server can be useful for both performance and security. It helps database admins see who’s using the system, what applications they’re running, and from where. This makes it easier to troubleshoot issues like slow queries or high resource usage. It also helps spot unusual or unauthorized access, such as logins from unknown machines or at odd times. Regularly reviewing active connections is a simple way to keep the server running smoothly and securely.
Below are five queries we can use to check which users are connected to a SQL Server instance.
How to Run SQL Server on your Mac with Azure SQL (for Free)
If you’re a Mac developer, setting up SQL Server locally is probably starting to feel like more trouble than it’s worth. Between workarounds like Docker, virtual machines, and third-party tools, just getting a working SQL Server environment on macOS is not exactly your run-of-the-mill installation.
Add to that Microsoft’s announcement to retire SQL Edge in September 2025 (SQL Edge was our only hope of installing SQL Server on a Mac without using a virtual machine), not to mention the impending retirement of Azure Data Studio in Feb 2026 (which we could use to connect to SQL Server), and you may start to wonder whether you should drop the whole idea of using SQL Server altogether.
5 Functions that Extract the Month from a Date in DuckDB
Sometimes when working with SQL databases like DuckDB, we need to return the month part from a date for presentation or for further processing. DuckDB provides us with a handful of functions that can help in this regard.
In this article, we’ll look at five different functions we can use to extract the month from a date in DuckDB.
Connect to Azure SQL Database Using VS Code
Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is an excellent tool for connecting to Azure SQL Database and managing data right from within your development environment. With a few simple steps, you can run queries, explore tables, and integrate database tasks into your development workflow.
This article walks you through connecting to Azure SQL using VS Code.