SQL Server 2016 and JSON Support 

At last, SQL Server has caught up with other RDBMSs by providing a useful measure of JSON-support. It is a useful start, even though it is nothing like as comprehensive as the existing XML support. For many applications, what is provided will be sufficient. Robert Sheldon describes what is there and what isn't. 

SQL SERVER 2016 – New T-SQL Functions – COMPRESS and DECOMPRESS 

declare @t table
(id char(1) primary key,
parent char(1));
 
insert @t values
('A',null),                                   --Level 1
('B', 'A'), ('C', 'A'),                       --Level 2
('D', 'B'), ('E', 'B'),('R','B'), ('F', 'C'), --Level 3
('G', 'D'),                                   --Level 4
('H', 'G'), ('I', 'G');                       --Level 5

;with cte as
(
select id, rnk=0, 
       concats = cast(id as varchar(10))
from @t
where parent is null
 
union all
 
select t.id, rnk+1,
       cast(cte.concats + t.id as varchar(10))
from cte join @t t
on cte.id = t.parent
)
select * from cte
/*
id   rnk         concats
---- ----------- ----------
A    0           A
B    1           AB
C    1           AC
F    2           ACF
D    2           ABD
E    2           ABE
R    2           ABR
G    3           ABDG
H    4           ABDGH
I    4           ABDGI
*/
;with cte as
(
select id, rnk=0, 
       concats = cast(id as varchar(10))
from @t
where parent is null
 
union all
 
select t.id, rnk+1,
       cast(cte.concats + t.id as varchar(10))
from cte join @t t
on cte.id = t.parent
)
select stuff(d.list,1,1,'') as concats
from (select ','+concats
      from cte
  for xml path(''))d(list)
/*
concats
----------------------------------------
A,AB,AC,ACF,ABD,ABE,ABR,ABDG,ABDGH,ABDGI
*/

declare @t table
(id char(1) primary key,
parent char(1));

insert @t values 
('A',null),                                   --Level 1
('B', 'A'), ('C', 'A'),                       --Level 2
('D', 'B'), ('E', 'B'),('R','B'), ('F', 'C'), --Level 3
('G', 'D'),  --Level 4
('H', 'G'), ('I', 'G');                       --Level 5

;with cte as
(
select id, rnk=0 from @t
where parent = 'A'
 
union all
 
select t.id, rnk+1
from cte join @t t
on cte.id = t.parent
)
select *
  from cte
 where not exists
       (select *
          from @t
         where parent = cte.id);

;with cte as
(
select id, rnk=0 from @t
where parent = 'A'

union all

select t.id, rnk+1
from cte join @t t
on cte.id = t.parent
)
select *
from
(
   select *, dense_rank() over(order by rnk desc) rk
     from cte
)t
where rk = 1

Compress and Decompress in SQL Server 2016 

Install and Configure SQL Server 2019 on Windows Server 2016