Transact-SQL (T-SQL) — Procedural Extensions in SQL Server 2000 Which language name refers to SQL Server's dialect that adds variables, parameters, IF, WHILE, and other procedural features to standard SQL?

Introduction:
Vendors extend SQL with procedural features for flow control, variables, and robust error handling. Microsoft's dialect for SQL Server is widely known and appears throughout documentation and tooling.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Platform: SQL Server 2000 and later.
• Focus: name of Microsoft's SQL dialect.

Concept / Approach:
Transact-SQL (often written as T-SQL) is the procedural extension layer on top of ANSI SQL for SQL Server. It introduces DECLARE, SET, IF, WHILE, TRY...CATCH (later versions), and rich metadata access with system views.

Step-by-Step Solution:
1) Associate vendor-specific dialects with products: T-SQL for SQL Server, PL/SQL for Oracle, PL/pgSQL for PostgreSQL.2) Identify the option that names Microsoft's dialect.3) Select TRANSACT SQL as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Open Books Online or SSMS templates; syntax is labeled T-SQL and uses constructs like DECLARE @i int; IF @i > 0 …

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• COBOL / Visual Basic / VB.NET: General-purpose languages, not SQL Server's SQL dialect.
• PL/pgSQL: PostgreSQL's procedural language.

Common Pitfalls:
Confusing PL/SQL or PL/pgSQL with T-SQL due to similar naming.

Final Answer:
TRANSACT SQL