If you right-click on a database in SQL Server Management Studio, you get an option to set Compatibility Level at the database level:
When you upgrade SQL Server or you want to improve performance, which option should you choose? Should you always go with the newest compatibility level? If you have an old application, can you upgrade SQL Server but still keep the old compat level without the vendor knowing? Let’s hit the common questions.
What does compatibility level do?
When Microsoft brings out a new version of SQL Server, they tend to keep the newest features only available