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.