connect-from-python

Connects a Python application to Azure SQL Database, choosing between Microsoft's first-party mssql-python driver and the incumbent pyodbc, and covering driver installation, the connection string each one wants, connection pooling, and Microsoft Entra ID including token-based authentication. Use when a user says "connect Python to Azure SQL", "mssql-python", "pyodbc", "install the ODBC driver so my Python code can connect", "which Python driver for SQL Server", or hits errors such as "data source name not found and no default driver specified" or a container image that cannot load the driver. Also use when adding a database layer to a Python service, or when it needs a passwordless connection. Covers installation, connection strings, pooling and Entra ID for Python only. Encryption doctrine and transient-fault retry belong to connect-to-azure-sql; Node and .NET have their own skills.