Transact-SQL is a language containing the commands that are used to administer instances of SQL Server; to create and manage all objects in an instance of SQL Server; and to insert, retrieve, modify, and delete data in SQL Server tables. Transact-SQL is an extension of the language defined in the SQL standards published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). This chapter introduces you to Transact-SQL and provides details about how to create and execute Transact-SQL statements in order to manage a SQL Server database and its data. The chapter also introduces you to the SQL Server programming tools that enable you to use Transact-SQL to interface with the database.