SQL Server (localdb)\v11.0 explained

Solution 1:

1. LocalDB was introduced in SQL Server 2012 CTP3. It’s basically a new version of SQL Express, with same functionality, dedicated to developers. So you don’t need to install any SQL server. If you have installed SQL 2012 or Visual Studio 11 then you already have it, and it runs over .Net 4 or higher. If you are using Visual Studio 11 and have been playing with the new EntityFramework and MVC, you can see it on the default connection string.

2. MDF is the default extension for SQL Server database files. (Log files are LDF) Also see this question.

3. You can restore to a specific folder by using RESTORE DATABASE WITH MOVE as documented on MSDN here.

4. LocalDB is intended for developers, see point 1.

5. The SQL Server Express blog has an informative post about LocalDB here.