Is SQL Server 2005 database compatible with 2008?

Question

I don't know if the title is correct but well what I'd like to ask: is it possible to import my database from SQL Server 2005 to 2008 or is the database in SQL Server 2005 compatible with 2008? I'm still a newbie.

Thanks

Answer 1

• You can restore an SQL Server 2005 database on SQL Server 2008.
• You can not restore an SQL Server 2008 database on SQL Server 2005.

Generally speaking, at the time of writing,

• you can restore any database starting from SQL Server 2005 on a newer version of SQL Server (up to 2016), and
• you can not restore any database on an earlier version.

You might want to increase the compatibility level of your DB after restoring it on a newer SQL Server version.

Answer 2

Yes. They are compatible. You can use a backup to transfer all the data.