---
title: "XML Data (SQL Server) | Microsoft Docs"
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ms.date: "03/14/2017"
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  - "XML [SQL Server]"
  - "XML [SQL Server], about XML"
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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)](../../relational-databases/xml/xml-data-type-and-columns-sql-server.md)  
 [XML Indexes (SQL Server)](../../relational-databases/xml/xml-indexes-sql-server.md)  
 [XML Schema Collections (SQL Server)](../../relational-databases/xml/xml-schema-collections-sql-server.md)  
 [FOR XML (SQL Server)](../../relational-databases/xml/for-xml-sql-server.md)  
 [OPENXML (Transact-SQL)](../../t-sql/functions/openxml-transact-sql.md)  
  
## Related Content  
 [Examples of Bulk Import and Export of XML Documents (SQL Server)](../../relational-databases/import-export/examples-of-bulk-import-and-export-of-xml-documents-sql-server.md)  
 [XQuery Language Reference (SQL Server)](../../xquery/xquery-language-reference-sql-server.md)