What is SQL?

Structured Query Language, or SQL, is a programming language for querying and accessing databases.

What is SQL?
What is SQL?
  • Structured Query Language (SQL) is its acronym.
  • Databases can be accessed and manipulated with SQL.
  • In 1986, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) both adopted SQL as a standard.

What Can SQL do?

  • SQL has the ability to execute database queries.
  • SQL can access data stored in a database.
  • A database can have records added using SQL.
  • SQL can update database records.
  • SQL can delete database records.
  • New databases can be made with SQL.
  • A database can have new tables created by SQL.
  • In a database, SQL can create stored procedures.
  • A database view can be created using SQL.
  • Permissions can be set for views, procedures, and tables using SQL.

SQL is a Standard - BUT...

Even though SQL is an ANSI/ISO standard, there are various SQL language versions.

However, they all support at least the major commands (SELECT, UPDATE, DELETE, INSERT, and WHERE) in a similar manner in order to comply with the ANSI standard.

Note: In addition to the SQL standard, the majority of database programs for SQL have their own proprietary extensions!


Using SQL on Your Website

You will need: in order to construct a website that displays data from a database:

  • A database program that uses RDBMS (such as MySQL, MS Access, or SQL Server)
  • to use PHP or ASP, a server-side scripting language,
  • to use SQL to obtain the desired data
  • to style the page using HTML and CSS

RDBMS

Relational Database Management System is abbreviated as RDBMS.

SQL and all modern database systems, including MS SQL Server, IBM DB2, Oracle, MySQL, and Microsoft Access, are based on RDBMS.

RDBMS stores data in tables, which are database objects. A table is an assortment of related information sections and it comprises segments and lines.

SELECT * FROM Customers;