---
title: "SQL Server Database Engine | Microsoft Docs"
ms.custom: ""
ms.date: "06/13/2017"
ms.prod: "sql-server-2014"
ms.reviewer: ""
ms.technology: 
ms.topic: conceptual
helpviewer_keywords: 
  - "Database Engine [SQL Server]"
  - "SQL Server Database Engine"
ms.assetid: 65e2f424-1386-45a6-8912-bd053f434073
author: CarlRabeler
ms.author: carlrab
manager: craigg
---
# SQL Server Database Engine
  The [!INCLUDE[ssDE](../includes/ssde-md.md)] is the core service for storing, processing, and securing data. The [!INCLUDE[ssDE](../includes/ssde-md.md)] provides controlled access and rapid transaction processing to meet the requirements of the most demanding data consuming applications within your enterprise.

 Use the [!INCLUDE[ssDE](../includes/ssde-md.md)] to create relational databases for online transaction processing or online analytical processing data. This includes creating tables for storing data, and database objects such as indexes, views, and stored procedures for viewing, managing, and securing data. You can use [!INCLUDE[ssManStudioFull](../includes/ssmanstudiofull-md.md)] to manage the database objects, and [!INCLUDE[ssSqlProfiler](../includes/sssqlprofiler-md.md)] to capture server events.

 **Browse Content by Area**
 ![Small File Folder Icon](../../2014/integration-services/media/filefolder-small.gif "Small File Folder Icon") [What's New (Database Engine)](whats-new-in-sql-server-2016.md)

 ![Small File Folder Icon](../../2014/integration-services/media/filefolder-small.gif "Small File Folder Icon") [SQL Server Database Engine Backward Compatibility](sql-server-database-engine-backward-compatibility.md)

 ![Small File Folder Icon](../../2014/integration-services/media/filefolder-small.gif "Small File Folder Icon") [SQL Server Management Tools Backward Compatibility](../../2014/database-engine/sql-server-management-tools-backward-compatibility.md)

 ![Small File Folder Icon](../../2014/integration-services/media/filefolder-small.gif "Small File Folder Icon") [Database Features and Tasks](../../2014/database-engine/database-engine-features-and-tasks.md)

 ![Small File Folder Icon](../../2014/integration-services/media/filefolder-small.gif "Small File Folder Icon") [Technical Reference](../../2014/database-engine/technical-reference-database-engine.md)

 ![Small File Folder Icon](../../2014/integration-services/media/filefolder-small.gif "Small File Folder Icon") [Transact-SQL Reference](/sql/t-sql/language-reference)

 ![Small File Folder Icon](../../2014/integration-services/media/filefolder-small.gif "Small File Folder Icon") [XQuery Reference](/sql/xquery/xquery-language-reference-sql-server)

## See Also
 [SQL Server Resource Center](https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=219676)