Structured Query Language

/ˌɛs kjuː ˈɛl/

Structured Query Language (SQL), pronounced as /ˌɛs kjuː ˈɛl/, is a domain-specific language used to manage and manipulate relational databases. Developed in the 1970s by IBM researchers Donald D. Chamberlin and Raymond F. Boyce, SQL has become the standard language for interacting with relational database management systems (RDBMS).

History

SQL emerged as a solution to the growing need for a standardized method to manage and query data stored in relational databases. It was initially developed as part of the IBM System R project and has since evolved to become a cornerstone of database management systems.

Purpose

The primary purpose of SQL is to facilitate the storage, retrieval, modification, and management of structured data in a relational database. It serves as a bridge between users or applications and the underlying database system.

Applications

SQL is utilized in a wide range of applications, including:

Data Manipulation: SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE statements allow users to interact with and modify data.
Data Definition: CREATE, ALTER, and DROP statements enable the creation, modification, and deletion of database structures.
Data Retrieval: SQL queries retrieve specific information from databases using various filtering and sorting conditions.
Data Administration: SQL statements manage user permissions, database backups, and other administrative tasks.

Code Example

Here's a simple example of SQL code for creating a table and performing a basic data query:

-- Creating a table
CREATE TABLE Employees (
    EmployeeID INT PRIMARY KEY,
    FirstName VARCHAR(50),
    LastName VARCHAR(50),
    Department VARCHAR(50)
);

-- Inserting data
INSERT INTO Employees (EmployeeID, FirstName, LastName, Department)
VALUES (1, 'John', 'Doe', 'Sales');

-- Querying data
SELECT EmployeeID, FirstName, LastName
FROM Employees
WHERE Department = 'Sales';

In this example, the SQL code defines a table structure, inserts data, and retrieves employee information from the "Employees" table.

SQL's power lies in its ability to manage and manipulate large datasets efficiently, making it an integral tool for businesses and organizations of all sizes.

other jargon: