How to get list of databases in SQL Server

In this article, we will see how to get list of databases in SQL Server.

We can get list of database by using following methods:

1. Using GUI(graphical user interface)
2. Using different SQL queries.

1. Using GUI(graphical user interface)

Connect to SQL Server and expand the databases in the object explorer as shown below.

How to get list of databases in SQL Server

2. Using different SQL queries.

1. By querying master.sys.databases,

SELECT name FROM master.sys.databases

2. Using system procedure.

EXEC sp_databases

3. Get only user defined databases in SQL Server By querying master.sys.databases.

select DATABASE_NAME = db_name(s_mf.database_id)
from sys.master_files s_mf
where
    s_mf.state = 0 -- ONLINE
    and has_dbaccess(db_name(s_mf.database_id)) = 1
    and db_name(s_mf.database_id) NOT IN ('master', 'tempdb', 'model', 'msdb')
    and db_name(s_mf.database_id) not like 'ReportServer%'
group by s_mf.database_id
order by 1;

So, in this article we have different methods to get list of databases in SQL Server.