Microsoft Developer introduces native regular expressions (Regex) support in SQL Server 2025, showing how new T-SQL functions enable regex-based text search and pattern matching, with links to Microsoft Learn and the RE2 syntax reference.

Native Regex in SQL Server 2025 (Data Exposed: MVP Edition)

It has finally arrived — native regular expressions (Regex) in SQL Server. This episode demonstrates how text can be searched using Regex patterns via a set of new functions, and why this matters for people writing T-SQL.

What’s covered

• Native Regex support in SQL Server 2025
• Searching text using Regex patterns in T-SQL via new functions
• Demos of the new capabilities
• How to get started

Video chapters

• 0:00 Introduction
• 2:40 Demo
• 9:00 Demo
• 9:55 Getting started

Resources

• Regular Expressions Overview (Microsoft Learn): https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/relational-databases/regular-expressions/overview
• Regex re2 syntax (GitHub wiki): https://github.com/google/re2/wiki/Syntax
• RE2 Regex library (GitHub): https://github.com/google/re2/

Social and playlists

• Twitter: Anna Hoffman: https://twitter.com/AnalyticAnna
• Twitter: AzureSQL: https://aka.ms/azuresqltw
• Data Exposed: MVP Edition playlist: https://aka.ms/dataexposedmvps
• Data Exposed (YouTube) playlist: https://aka.ms/dataexposedyt

Subscribe

• Microsoft Azure SQL: https://aka.ms/msazuresqlyt
• Microsoft SQL Server: https://aka.ms/mssqlserveryt
• Microsoft Developer: https://aka.ms/microsoftdeveloperyt

About the MVP program (from the description)

Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals (MVPs) are technology experts who share knowledge with the community. Learn more: https://aka.ms/mvpprogram