Can default SQLServer instance name be empty string? Client argues he has ".\" as server\instance name. There are two kinds of instances: default and named instance and it seems logical that not named has no name. But MSDN says: default name is MSSQLSERVER.
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4The **service name** for the default instance is `MSSQLSERVER`, but the **instance name** is empty - so you connect to your **default instance** using `.`, or `(local)`, or `machinename` (without any further instance name) .... – marc_s Apr 20 '16 at 04:54
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As you stated, MSDN does state that the default instance name is MSSQLSERVER
. It also states that an instance name does not need to be specified for a default instance to make a connection.
So to answer you question, the default instance name isn't empty, but the reference to it can be. Reference using the server / pc name.
More info related to default and named instances can be found here.

Kyle Stoflet
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