If you have a previous version of Microsoft ODBC Driver 18 for SQL Server installed, installing 18.3.2.1 upgrades it to 18.3.2.1. Version 18.3.2.1 is the latest general availability (GA) version. Starting with version 17.4.2, the installer also includes and installs the Microsoft Active Directory Authentication Library (ADAL.dll). It optionally installs the header files needed to develop an application that uses the ODBC API.
The redistributable installer for Microsoft ODBC Driver 18 for SQL Server installs the client components, which are required during run time to take advantage of newer SQL Server features. Use Microsoft ODBC Driver 18 for SQL Server to create new applications or enhance existing applications that need to take advantage of newer SQL Server features. Microsoft ODBC Driver for SQL Server is a single dynamic-link library (DLL) containing run-time support for applications using native-code APIs to connect to SQL Server. Applies to: SQL Server Azure SQL Database Azure SQL Managed Instance Azure Synapse Analytics Analytics Platform System (PDW)
