# Azure SQL Database serverless

> Azure SQL Database Serverless is a very recent service on Azure. What a funny idea to have a server less database. In this article, we will see in what cases it is…

- Author: Jérôme Giacomini
- Language: en
- Canonical URL: [Azure SQL Database serverless](https://jeromegiacomini.net/articles/2020/01/20/azure-sql-database-serverless)
- Published: 2020-01-20
- Last modified: 2026-09-05
- Topics: .NET, Azure, SQL

Azure SQL Database Serverless is a very recent service on Azure.
What a funny idea to have a server-less database.
In this article, we will see in what cases it is useful to use this service and how to use it.

## What exactly is that?

**Azure SQL Database without server** is a **Azure SQL Database** classic which:
- billing only for the use of calculation and
storage used
- takes a break after a period of inactivity
- Which is self-scaling.


In contrast to databases **Azure SQL Database**  Classical:
- which have a fixed monthly price
- the server is provided


## In what cases should it be used?

In case you do not need your
data is always online.

You use your database once a day/week/month
the rest of the time this one can be on hiatus.

## How to create an Azure server
SQL database without a server?

In the blue portal ([https://portal.azure.com/](https://portal.azure.com/)) :
- click
on  Create a resource


![](https://jeromegiacomini.net/Blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/chooseService.png)
- Then search **SQL Databases**
- Then in the section **Computing + storage** click on **Set up the database**
- You have more than to click on **Serverless**


![](https://jeromegiacomini.net/Blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/configureSqlServer-1024x353.png)

The main parameters are as follows:
- Auto-Pause delay: which, as the name implies, is the time of inactivity from which the database is paused
- Maximum storage of your database
- Maximum and minimum number of vCores used by the database


**Please note :** If you already have an existing database you can move it to serverless through the menu « Configure

And now it's your turn to optimize the cost of your Azure database!

Happy coding &##x1f642;