MSSQL (SQL Server) Connection String Format

MSSQL Connection String Formats

Microsoft SQL Server supports two primary connection string formats: the URI format used by modern tools and the classic ADO.NET key-value format.

URI Format (Prisma, modern drivers)

sqlserver://[user[:password]@]host[:port];database=dbname[;param=value]

Example:

sqlserver://sa:MyStr0ngP%40ss@localhost:1433;database=myapp;encrypt=true

Note that MSSQL URIs use semicolons to separate parameters (not ? and & like other databases).

ADO.NET Format (classic)

The traditional format uses semicolon-separated key=value pairs:

Server=localhost,1433;Database=myapp;User Id=sa;Password=MyStr0ngP@ss;Encrypt=True;TrustServerCertificate=True

Note the port uses a comma separator (Server=host,port), not a colon.

Authentication Modes

SQL Server Authentication (username/password):

Server=localhost;Database=mydb;User Id=sa;Password=secret;

Windows Authentication (Integrated Security):

Server=localhost;Database=mydb;Integrated Security=True;

Azure AD Authentication:

Server=myserver.database.windows.net;Database=mydb;Authentication=Active Directory Default;

Encryption Parameters

Parameter	Purpose
Encrypt=True	Enable TLS encryption
TrustServerCertificate=True	Skip certificate validation (dev only)
HostNameInCertificate=*.database.windows.net	Expected cert hostname

Named Instances

SQL Server supports named instances using a backslash:

Server=localhost\SQLEXPRESS;Database=mydb;User Id=sa;Password=secret;

In a URI format, the backslash must be encoded:

sqlserver://sa:secret@localhost%5CSQLEXPRESS;database=mydb

Default Port

SQL Server defaults to port 1433. Named instances may use dynamic ports resolved via the SQL Server Browser service on UDP port 1434.