What is SqlDependency in .NET?

SqlDependency lets SQL Server notify your .NET app instantly when query results change, killing polling waste via Service Broker and Query Notifications.

How do I enable Service Broker for SqlDependency?

Run `ALTER DATABASE YourDB SET ENABLE_BROKER WITH ROLLBACK IMMEDIATE;`. Verify with `SELECT is_broker_enabled FROM sys.databases;`. Reboot can disable it—check always.

What are SqlDependency query limitations?

No SELECT *, aggregates, TOP without ORDER BY, UNION, complex subs. Tables need PK/unique index; use explicit columns and two-part names.

☁️ Cloud & Databases

SqlDependency in .NET: Ditch Polling, Let SQL Server Ring Your Doorbell

Your app polls the database 86,400 times a day—mostly for zilch. SqlDependency ends that nonsense, pushing changes straight to your .NET code like a cosmic bat-signal.

theAIcatchup Apr 10, 2026 4 min read

Diagram showing SqlDependency pushing real-time notifications from SQL Server to a .NET application

⚡ Key Takeaways

SqlDependency swaps wasteful polling for instant database push notifications in .NET. 𝕏
Requires Service Broker enabled and strict query rules—clean up those SELECT * habits. 𝕏
Perfect for real-time apps; my bet: essential for future AI agents querying live data. 𝕏

Published by

theAIcatchup

Community-driven. Code-first.

#.NET #Query Notifications #SQL Server #Service Broker #SqlDependency

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Originally reported by Dev.to

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