SQL programs are utilized by businesses and organizations to access and manipulate information, data stored in databases, as well as to create and modify new tables. Understanding precisely what SQL is requires understanding what a database is.
What is SQL? Learn SQL
According to Microsoft, a database is a tool for gathering and organizing information. It can store data about users, orders, or other information. Many databases can integrate with word processing or spreadsheet programs. For large businesses, creating a database management system would be more beneficial.
To manage information in databases, SQL is used to allow users to retrieve specific data they are seeking. Although it is a simple programming language, SQL is powerful and useful.
According to Database Dir, SQL can insert data into database tables, modify data in existing database tables, and delete data from SQL database tables. Additionally, SQL can alter database structure by creating, modifying, and deleting other database objects.
According to Database Dir, SQL utilizes commands to manipulate data in the database. For instance, the SQL INSERT command is used to add data to database tables, the SQL SELECT command is used to retrieve data from database tables, and SQL UPDATE is used to modify existing database records.
History of SQL
The programming language SQL was developed by IBM researchers Raymond Boyce and Donald Chamberlin in the 1970s. Known initially as SEQUEL, it was created after Edgar Frank Todd's relational data model for large data-sharing banks was published in 1970.
In his book, Todd presented all database data in relational form. In the Oracle Quick Guides (Cornelio Books 2013), author Malcolm Coxall writes that the original version of SQL was designed to manipulate and retrieve data stored in IBM's original relational database management systems called System R.
Several years later, SQL was publicly disclosed. In 1979, a company called Relational Software, later renamed Oracle, released a version called Oracle V2 SQL programming language.
Since then, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the International Standards Organization (ISO) have regarded SQL as the standard language in relational database communication. Although major SQL providers have customized the language according to their preferences, much of it relies on ANSI-approved SQL programs.
MySQL
Instead of trying to write SQL for their own databases, many companies use pre-integrated SQL database management systems. Developed and distributed by Oracle, MySQL is one of the most popular SQL database management systems today. The software has an open-source version, meaning users can download and use it for free.
Refer to how to Attach and Detach databases without losing user rights here
According to GoDaddy web hosting service, MySQL is a sophisticated and powerful relational database, used on numerous websites to create and modify content quickly.
Although MySQL can be used across various applications, it is also commonly found on many web servers, according to TechTerms.com.
Currently, many major tech companies worldwide are utilizing MySQL on their websites, including Facebook, Google, Adobe, Alcatel Lucent, and Zappos.
Above, Mytour just explained what SQL is to you? Besides MySQL, there are other open-source SQL database management systems such as PostgreSQL, Ingres, and Firebird.
Also related to SQL, you can explore more about MS SQL Server and Oracle: What are they? Compare Oracle and SQL Server here to distinguish between these two popular database systems.