USE (Transact-SQL)

database

Is the name of the database or database snapshot to which the user context is switched. Database and database snapshot names must comply with the rules for identifiers.

When a SQL Server login connects to SQL Server, the login is automatically connected to its default database and acquires the security context of a database user. If no database user has been created for the SQL Server login, the login connects as guest. If the database user does not have CONNECT permission on the database, the USE statement will fail. If no default database has been assigned to the login, its default database will be set to master.

USE is executed at both compile and execution time and takes effect immediately. Therefore, statements that appear in a batch after the USE statement are executed in the specified database.

Requires CONNECT permission on the target database.

The following example changes the database context to the AdventureWorks2012 database.

USE AdventureWorks2012;
GO

Reference

Concepts