SQL Server 2005 Express is the database component of Microsoft's Express Suite of products. It is free of charge, inherits many (non-enterprise) features from SQL Server 2005, and comes complete with development and administration tools. As such, it is an ideal database for developers and administrators to use in prototype/evaluation projects. It is also a powerful development platform for database applications on nonprofit websites, e-commerce sites, and in small offices and departments.

Author Rick Dobson provides all of the installation, configuration, administration, and development techniques that you need to build applications quickly. He focuses on techniques that are easy to learn and transparent in their real-world translations. Topics include the SSMS-based query tool and T-SQL programming, and Visual Basic Express and Visual Web Developer, both with SSE, to build Windows Forms applications and to develop ASP.NET web applications.