# Microsoft Azure SQL

[Microsoft Azure
SQL](https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/products/azure-sql/database/) can
either be used as a data source or a data destination in Zuar Runner.

.. image:: assets/azure__connection.png
   :alt: Zuar Runner connects to Azure SQL Server

Source plugin example: [Query](/jobs/query)

Destination plugin examples: [CSV](/jobs/csv),
[Salesforce](/connectors/salesforce),
[SQL](/jobs/sql)

## Microsoft Azure SQL as a Data Destination

- Zuar Runner automatically creates the Microsoft Azure SQL database schema if it doesn't exist
- Zuar Runner automatically creates the Microsoft Azure SQL database tables if they don't exist
- Zuar Runner automatically determines data types for Microsoft Azure SQL columns
- Zuar Runner automatically adds new columns to Microsoft Azure SQL tables based new fields in source systems 
- Zuar Runner automatically adjusts Microsoft Azure SQL tables based on changes in source data

## Microsoft Azure SQL Specific Setup

Below is the [database url](/databases/database-urls) structure for
connecting to an Microsoft Azure SQL database:

`mssql+pyodbc://<username>:<password>@<hostname>/<database>?<parameters>`

.. NOTE::

   Microsoft Azure SQL requires a parameter for the Microsoft Azure SQL driver. 
   Typically this is 
   **?driver=ODBC+Driver+17+for+SQL+Server**.

Here's an example of using an Microsoft Azure SQL database as a destination in
a [CSV](/jobs/csv/) job:

.. image:: assets/azure__output.png
   :alt: Output Data to Azure SQL Server

.. NOTE::

   When outputting to a Microsoft Azure SQL database, leaving the 'Schema' blank will create a table in the **dbo** schema.*

## SQL

Zuar Runner can send [SQL](/jobs/sql) statements to a Microsoft
Azure SQL database. Use Microsoft Azure SQL syntax in these Zuar Runner SQL jobs.