---
title: "XML Data (SQL Server) | Microsoft Docs"
ms.custom: ""
ms.date: "06/14/2017"
ms.prod: "sql-server-2014"
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ms.technology: xml
ms.topic: conceptual
helpviewer_keywords: 
  - "XML [SQL Server]"
  - "XML [SQL Server], about XML"
ms.assetid: 6a1793c9-9856-485c-aac5-88fda62f61a8
author: MightyPen
ms.author: genemi
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---
# XML Data (SQL Server)
  [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] provides a powerful platform for developing rich applications for semi-structured data management. Support for XML is integrated into all the components in [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] and includes the following:  
  
-   The `xml` data type. XML values can be stored natively in an `xml` data type column that can be typed according to a collection of XML schemas, or left untyped. You can index the XML column.  
  
-   The ability to specify an XQuery query against XML data stored in columns and variables of the `xml` type.  
  
-   Enhancements to OPENROWSET to allow bulk loading of XML data.  
  
-   The FOR XML clause, to retrieve relational data in XML format.  
  
-   The OPENXML function, to retrieve XML data in relational format.  
  
## In This Section  
 [XML Data Type and Columns (SQL Server)](xml-data-type-and-columns-sql-server.md)  
 [XML Indexes (SQL Server)](xml-indexes-sql-server.md)  
 [XML Schema Collections (SQL Server)](xml-schema-collections-sql-server.md)  
 [FOR XML (SQL Server)](for-xml-sql-server.md)  
 [OPENXML (Transact-SQL)](/sql/t-sql/functions/openxml-transact-sql)  
  
## Related Content  
 [Examples of Bulk Import and Export of XML Documents (SQL Server)](../import-export/examples-of-bulk-import-and-export-of-xml-documents-sql-server.md)  
 [XQuery Language Reference (SQL Server)](/sql/xquery/xquery-language-reference-sql-server)