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I'm curious what inside of a SQL Server database (a .mdf file) since it has been 4 gb and how do I open it to find something interesting in it?

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  • Use the related sql viewing software to look into it? MS SQL has sql server management studio Commented Apr 21, 2019 at 13:47
  • Thanks for the answer. any suggestion what trusted software should i use? Commented Apr 21, 2019 at 13:53
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    Essentially MDF is a binary file so you can’t use a text editor to look at the file and get anything of Value. @Agus has a good answer below! Commented Apr 21, 2019 at 13:56

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Extracted from data-recovery-solutions:

MDF files are the primary database files of SQL database server and they are saved as .MDF extension. Being the primary database, MDF files store all the user database and other database objects like tables, keys, indices, views, functions, columns, triggers etc. Also, these files include all the startup info of the SQL Server database. In an MS SQL Server, each database contains one primary MDF file.

It is a binary kind of file which can’t be opened normally. It is the main database file that can be attached to a running SQL Server to access the database using SQL transaction Statements. But, these MDF files are prone to corruption. Even a smaller corruption in MDF files makes your entire database contents inaccessible.

See here for a MDF viewer

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This is the reason why i'm afraid to open it. to avoid a corruption since its a online database which cant be turn off. thanks anyway

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