SQL Server 2016 introduces several new functions that can help developers to be more productive and efficient. Additionally, by removing limitations in some existing functions, their scope of usage has been enlarged. Now, SQL Server contains more than 300 built-in functions. Here is the list of new or changed functions and expressions in SQL Server 2016:
Two new string functions
STRING_SPLIT
andSTRING_ESCAPE
New date function and new expression
DATEFDIFF_BIG
andAT TIME ZONE
Four new system functions
COMPRESS
,DECOMPRESS
,SESSION_CONTEXT
, andCURRENT_TRANSACTION_ID
Enhancements in the cryptographic function
HASHBYTES
Four JSON-related functions
ISSJON
,JSON_VALUE
,JSON_QUERY
,JSON_MODIFY
, and one new rowset functionOPENJSON