How to connect to database using Server Explorer in Visual Studio

Steps to connect to your database using Server Explorer in Visual Studio

• Open Visual Studio, Select View → Server Explorer
  
• Right Click on Data Connections and select Add Connection...
  

If you are not connected to a database from Server Explorer then you will need to select Microsoft Server as the data source.

You can connect to either localDb((localdb)\v11.0) or SQL Express (./SQLEXPRESS), In my case I am connecting to SQLEXPRESS which is hosted my machine(MYNA) so the name will be “MYNA\SQLEXPRESS” and then select your existing database or you can define new database which will get created.

Once you are done , You can check the database in the Server Explorer