1 Introduction

The Tabular Data Stream (TDS) protocol versions 7 and 8 is an application layer request/response protocol that facilitates interaction with a database server and provides for the following:

• Authentication and channel encryption.

• Specification of requests in SQL (including Bulk Insert).

• Invocation of a stored procedure or user-defined function, also known as a remote procedure call (RPC).

• The return of data.

• Transaction manager requests.

Sections 1.5, 1.8, 1.9, 2, and 3 of this specification are normative. All other sections and examples in this specification are informative.