What is Extended Events?

Extended Events is SQL Server's lightweight event infrastructure for capturing detailed engine activity. It can record events related to queries, errors, deadlocks, waits, logins, recompilations, blocking, and many other areas.

Sessions can apply filters and capture selected event fields and actions to targets such as event files.

Extended Events is generally preferred over SQL Trace/Profiler for modern production diagnostics because it is more flexible and designed for lower-overhead event collection.