Code has been added to clipboard!

What Is SQL?

Reading time 2 min
Published Jan 2, 2016
Updated Oct 3, 2019

SQL, short for Structured Query Language, is a standardized programming language, the primary purpose of which is management of relational databases.

What is SQL best at? The queries. It allows you to create a vast variety of requests for actions with databases. SQL allows you to send, load, modify, create, delete data in databases. Learning SQL is necessary for all database administrators, data analysts, and developers looking to use a wide range of data.

Additionally, SQL has quite a long history, going way back to 1970. Because of this, there are multiple types of SQL by now. However, we will learn the commonly used basic SQL syntax and commands, as supported by the ANSI standard.

What Is SQL: Main Tips

  • SQL is a standardized programming language for writing database queries.
  • The basic SQL syntax and commands comply with the ANSI standard.
  • There are multiple SQL types and some commands only work on certain database systems.

What is possible with SQL?

To give you a better idea on what SQL is capable of, here's a list:

  • Work with a query contrary to DB (database)
  • Bring back data information from a DB
  • Write data records in a DB
  • Edit data records in a DB
  • Remove data records from a DB
  • Produce new DBs
  • Produce tables in a DB
  • Produce a contained procedure in a DB
  • Produce a view in a DB
  • Define a permission in views, procedures and tables

Using SQL on Your Web Site

Is SQL hard to learn? Not really, but you have to have some coding knowledge already. Below is the list of things you need to work with data from a database on your web site:

  • One of the following RDBMS database systems: SQL Server, MySQL, MS Access or other
  • A language for server-side scripting: PHP, ASP
  • HTML & CSS basics

RDBMS

RDBMS (relational database management system) is a software system for SQL and any database system. The information/data records are contained in tables (objects in a database).

What Is SQL: Summary

  • SQL is a query language for managing relational databases.
  • The original SQL syntax and commands are defined by the ANSI standard.
  • Due to multiple SQL types existing, some SQL commands may not work on specific database systems.
Learn SQL
Introduction
Syntax
Data Types
Server Data Types
Commands
Commands List
Wildcards
Constraints
Aggregate Functions
Date Functions
Date Format
Injection
SQL Server Hosting
Views
Auto-incrementation
SQL Operators
AS
AND & OR
IN
BETWEEN
WHERE
GROUP BY
HAVING
ORDER BY
LIKE
NOT
NOT EQUAL
UNION
NULL
NOT NULL
DEFAULT
UNIQUE
FOREIGN KEY
PRIMARY KEY
CHECK
Indexes
ALTER TABLE
CREATE DATABASE
CREATE TABLE
DELETE
DROP
INSERT INTO SELECT
INSERT INTO
SELECT
SELECT DISTINCT
SELECT INTO
SELECT TOP
UPDATE
FULL OUTER JOIN
INNER JOIN
JOIN
LEFT JOIN
RIGHT JOIN
AVG()
COUNT
FIRST
LAST
MAX
MIN()
SUM()
LEN
UCASE
MID
NOW
ROUND
FORMAT
LOWER
CONVERT
ISNULL