Every Scooby-Doo adventure has its running gags. Shaggy and Scooby bolt from every ghost in sight, Velma’s always losing her glasses, and Scrappy jumps in yelling, “Let me at ‘em!” But in this episode, Scrappy’s favorite joke is about a villain he calls Jason.
Of course, Jason isn’t really a monster at all—it’s JSON, the data type we’ve been wrangling inside SQL Server and pretty much everywhere else across our technology stacks. . And in SQL Server 2025, the gang finally figures out how to unmask this villain and catch him faster than ever.
Jason Unmasked: JSON in Native Binary Format
Scrappy may play it up like Jason’s a big scary monster, but Velma shines the flashlight on the real clue: starting in SQL Server 2025, JSON documents are stored in a native parsed binary format instead of varchar(max) or nvarchar(max).
Why’s that such a big deal? Because before, every read or update had to sift through the entire string—like Scooby digging through a pile of sandwiches just to sniff out the peanut butter one. Now SQL Server can skip right to the part of the JSON document it needs, making reads and updates way faster and a lot less messy. Prior to SQL 2025, there were some techniques to better manage JSON, but they weren’t very effective.
Backup Compression: Another Clue
While Velma explains, Fred sets the trap: ZSTD Backup Compression. This new algorithm in SQL Server 2025 squeezes JSON data down smaller than before, with configurable levels—low, medium, or high.
That means smaller backups, less storage eaten up, and quicker recovery. Think Daphne finding the secret door that leads right to the treasure room instead of dragging every trunk out of the haunted mansion.
Why We Care: Benefits of JSON in SQL Server
Scrappy: “So Uncle Scoob, why do we care about Jason—I mean JSON—anyway?”
Scooby: “Ruh-roh… lots of renefits, Raggy!””
Here are the big benefits of storing JSON documents directly in SQL Server:
- Schema flexibility – JSON is perfect when your rows don’t all wear the same mask. Semi-structured data fits right in.
- Simplified integration – Apps already love speaking JSON, so keeping it in SQL Server means fewer awkward translations.
- Binary performance boost – Reads and updates race along faster because SQL Server doesn’t have to rip through the whole document every time.
- Backup compression magic – With ZSTD, your backups shrink down like the amount Scooby snacks in Shaggy’s pocket. Not to mention the difference made by it not being a MAX datatype.
Velma’s notebook reminds us there are pros and cons:
Pros (the good clues):
- Faster I/O and query performance—like Scooby sprinting when he smells a Scooby Snack.
- Efficient updates to just parts of a document—no need to raid the whole fridge when you only want one sandwich.
- Smaller backups thanks to ZSTD compression—your storage shrinks down like Shaggy’s laundry after a dip in the swamp.
Cons (the spooky warnings):
- Even unmasked, JSON isn’t as squeaky-clean as the relational models we know and love. It’s great for flexibility, but not as orderly as Velma’s neatly labeled clue notebook.
- Complex, deeply nested JSON can feel like Scooby and Shaggy lost in a hallway of endless doors—confusing and hard to navigate.
- Compression levels need balance—turn it up too high and it’s like Scooby carrying one too many sandwiches: you’ll save space, but it takes extra effort.
Why Rookie Sleuths Should Care
Scrappy: “Okay, okay… but why should the rookie sleuths in the gang, like me Scrappy Doo, even care about JSON?”
Scooby: “Ruh-roh… rerformance!”
For the average DBA or developer, it all comes down to how smooth the chase runs:
- Before: Every query had to chew through the entire JSON string—like Scooby and Shaggy eating the whole buffet just to find one cookie. Slow, messy, and exhausting.
- Now: With binary storage, SQL Server can go straight to the right clue—like you Scrappy, pointing your paw right at the villain hiding behind the curtain.
That means:
- Smoother queries with less wasted CPU.
- Faster reads and updates without the heavy lifting.
- Backups that don’t swallow your entire storage closet.
For novice sleuths, that’s the difference between chasing shadows in a haunted hallway and catching the culprit before they escape out the back door.
The Final Scene
When the mask comes off, Jason isn’t a monster at all—it’s just JSON, now tamed by SQL Server 2025’s binary storage and ZSTD compression.
Scrappy: “See, Uncle Scoob? Told ya Jason wasn’t so tough!”
Scooby: “Hee-hee… just another mystery solved!”
The post The Gang vs. Jason: Unmasking JSON’s Secrets in SQL Server 2025- Scooby Dooing Episode 7 first appeared on A Shot of SQLEspresso.