Structured Query Language (SQL)

Introduction of SQL

• SQL stands for Structured Query Language.
• It is a programming language which stores, manipulates and retrieves the stored data in RDBMS.
• SQL syntax is not case sensitive.
• SQL is standardized by both ANSI and ISO.
• It is a standard language for accessing and manipulating databases.

Characteristics of SQL

• SQL is extremely flexible.
• SQL uses a free form syntax that gives the ability to user to structure the SQL statements in a best suited way.
• It is a high level language.
• It receives natural extensions to its functional capabilities.
• It can execute queries against the database.

Advantages of SQL

• SQL provides a greater degree of abstraction than procedural language.
• It is coded without embedded data-navigational instructions.
• It enables the end users to deal with a number of database management systems where it is available.
• It retrieves quickly and efficiently huge amount of records from a database.
• No coding required while using standard SQL.

Roles of SQL

• SQL retrieves data from the database. It is an interactive query language.
• It can be used along with programming language to access data from database. It is a database programming language.
• It can be used to monitor and control data access by various users. It is a database administration language.
• It can be used as an Internet data access language.