What is the format of a SQLConnection connection string?

William Thompson

What is the format of a SQLConnection connection string that is passed in the constructor method? I have run a search engine search online and all I could find so far is examples like:

"Data Source=(local);Initial Catalog=AdventureWorks; Integrated Security=SSPI;";

"User Id=sa;Server=localhost;Initial Catalog=Test;"

The examples raises questions. Since the SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) program offers a different set of fields during start up in order to connect to a database, I have to ask how does "Server type, "Server name", "Authentication", "User name" and "Password". Also, is "Catalog" another name for a database table?

4 Replies

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Packiaraj Santhiyagu8y ago
It is basically string. you can pass as string
Ravishankar N8y ago
Hi William Thompson,
The connection string is used to open SQL Server Database is,
"Data Source=MSSQL1;Initial Catalog=AdventureWorks;"+ "Integrated Security=true;"
You can use in your code like below code snippet
private static void OpenSqlConnection()
{
    string connectionString = GetConnectionString();

    using (SqlConnection connection = new SqlConnection())
    {
        connection.ConnectionString = connectionString;

        connection.Open();

        Console.WriteLine("State: {0}", connection.State);
        Console.WriteLine("ConnectionString: {0}",
            connection.ConnectionString);
    }
}

static private string GetConnectionString()
{
    // To avoid storing the connection string in your code,
    // you can retrieve it from a configuration file.
    return "Data Source=MSSQL1;Initial Catalog=AdventureWorks;"
        + "Integrated Security=true;";
}
Sanwar Ranwa8y ago
Hello William Thompson,

Use use following links which helpfull for you

https://www.connectionstrings.com/sql-server/

http://www.sqlstrings.com/sql-server-connection-strings.htm

https://www.connectionstrings.com/sql-server-2016/
Bryian Tan8y ago
This might help: https://www.connectionstrings.com/sql-server/