Microsoft SQL Server Spatial
Microsoft SQL Server Spatial is a set of spatial data types and functions integrated into Microsoft SQL Server that enables storage, querying, and analysis of geographic and geometric data. It supports both planar (geometry) and geodetic (geography) data models, allowing developers to work with location-based information such as points, lines, polygons, and spatial relationships. This feature is built into SQL Server, providing native support for spatial operations without requiring external extensions.
Developers should learn and use Microsoft SQL Server Spatial when building applications that require location-aware functionality, such as mapping services, geographic information systems (GIS), logistics optimization, or real estate analysis. It is particularly valuable for scenarios involving spatial queries (e.g., finding points within a radius, calculating distances, or performing intersections) directly within the database, which can improve performance by reducing data transfer to application layers. Use cases include urban planning, fleet management, and environmental monitoring where spatial data integrity and efficient querying are critical.