T-SQL Enhancements in SQL Server 2005

Features covered:

1. Statement-level recompile—More efficient recompilation of stored procedures
2. Event notifications—Integration of Data Definition Language (DDL) and DML operations with Service Broker
3. Large data types—New data types that deprecate TEXT and IMAGE
4. DDL triggers—Triggers that fire on DDL operations
5. Common Table Expressions—Declarative syntax that makes a reusable expression part of a query
6. Hierarchical queries—Declarative syntax for tree-based queries
7. PIVOT—Declarative syntax aggregations across columns and converting columns to rows
8. APPLY—New JOIN syntax made for use with user-defined functions and XML
9. TOP—Row count based on an expression
10. Transaction abort—TRY/CATCH syntax for handling errors