USE [database] in SQL Server is a way to change the context to a specific database when you are running a query in Microsoft SQL Server.

When you log into SQL Server using SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS), your database context will be automatically set to your default database which was set during the creation of your SQL login.

This means if you create a new query (SSMS Shortkey: Ctrl + N) in SSMS you’ll automatically be scoped to that database. You can switch context by selecting the drop-down menu in SSMS or by running the USE command:

USE [Database] SQL

-- Use database example sql server
USE [animals];
GO;

The USE command does not work with Azure SQL Database.

If you don’t know database names and can’t see them in the Management Studio (SSMS) Object Explorer, try to see if you can query sys.databases (SELECT * FROM sys.databases) to see if anything shows up.

This here is an example of the SQL USE command within a sequence of queries:

Another phrase that is used instead of ‘context switching’ is ‘scoping’. For example, this query is database scoped – meaning you should run the query within the context of a specific database.