Setting the compatibility level of a database allows you to control the version of the SQL Server database, affecting how the database behaves.

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Compatibility level in SQL Server is a property that determines how the database behaves in terms of syntax and query optimization, allowing for backward compatibility with older versions. Methods to identify and change the compatibility level include using dynamic management views and SQL Server Management Studio, as well as executing the ALTER DATABASE command. New features introduced with different compatibility levels include Query Store, Intelligent Query Processing, and Temporal Tables, among others.

Different ways to identify and change compatibility levels in SQL Server

List of compatibility levels in SQL Server and features introduced in each compatibility level.

Change compatibility level using ALTER DATABASE statement.

Change compatibility level using SQL Server Management Studio