DBMS Languages: -

DDL (Data Definition Language): -

Common DDL Commands

Command Description Syntax

Create database or its

objects (table, index, CREATE TABLE table_name
CREATE function, views, store (column1 data_type, column2
procedure, and data_type, ...);
triggers)

Delete objects from

DROP DROP TABLE table_name;
the database

ALTER TABLE table_name ADD

Alter the structure of
ALTER COLUMN column_name
the database data_type;
 Command Description Syntax

Remove all records

from a table, including
TRUNCATE all spaces allocated TRUNCATE TABLE table_name;
for the records are
removed

Add comments to the COMMENT 'comment_text' ON

COMMENT TABLE table_name;
data dictionary

Rename an object
RENAME TABLE old_table_name
RENAME existing in the TO new_table_name;
database

Example:
CREATE TABLE employees (
employee_id INT PRIMARY KEY,
first_name VARCHAR(50),
last_name VARCHAR(50),
hire_date DATE
);

DQL - Data Query Language

DQL statements are used for performing queries on the data within
schema objects.
DQL Command
Command Description Syntax

SELECT column1,
It is used to retrieve data
SELECT column2, ...FROM table_name
from the database WHERE condition;

DML - Data Manipulation Language

Common DML Commands
Command Description Syntax

INSERT INTO table_name (column1,

Insert data into a
INSERT column2, ...) VALUES (value1, value2,
table ...);

Update existing UPDATE table_name SET column1 =

UPDATE data within a value1, column2 = value2 WHERE
table condition;

Delete records
DELETE FROM table_name WHERE
DELETE from a database condition;
table

Table control
LOCK LOCK TABLE table_name IN lock_mode;
concurrency

Call a PL/SQL or
CALL JAVA CALL procedure_name(arguments);
subprogram

Describe the
EXPLAIN EXPLAIN PLAN FOR SELECT * FROM
access path to table_name;
PLAN
data

Example:
INSERT INTO employees (first_name, last_name, department)
VALUES ('Jane', 'Smith', 'HR');

DCL - Data Control Language

mainly deal with the rights, permissions and other controls of the database
system. These commands are used to control access to data in the
database by granting or revoking permissions.

Common DCL Commands

Command Description Syntax

GRANT Assigns new privileges GRANT privilege_type

to a user account, [(column_list)] ON
allowing access to [object_type] object_name
TO user [WITH GRANT
specific database OPTION];
objects, actions, or
 Command Description Syntax

functions.

Removes previously
granted privileges REVOKE [GRANT OPTION FOR]
from a user account, privilege_type
REVOKE taking away their [(column_list)] ON
access to certain [object_type] object_name
database objects or FROM user [CASCADE];
actions.

Example of DCL
GRANT SELECT, UPDATE ON employees TO user_name;

TCL - Transaction Control Language

Common TCL Commands
Command Description Syntax

BEGIN BEGIN TRANSACTION

Starts a new transaction [transaction_name];
TRANSACTION

Saves all changes made

COMMIT COMMIT;
during the transaction

Undoes all changes

ROLLBACK made during the ROLLBACK;
transaction

Creates a savepoint
SAVEPOINT
SAVEPOINT within the current savepoint_name;
transaction

Example:
BEGIN TRANSACTION;
UPDATE employees SET department = 'Marketing' WHERE
department = 'Sales';
SAVEPOINT before_update;
UPDATE employees SET department = 'IT' WHERE department =
'HR';
ROLLBACK TO SAVEPOINT before_update;
COMMIT;
Most Important SQL Commands
Command Description

SELECT Retrieves data from one or more tables.

INSERT Adds new rows (records) to a table.

UPDATE Modifies existing data in a table.

DELETE Removes specific rows from a table.

CREATE TABLE Creates a new table in the database.

Modifies the structure of an existing table (e.g., add or

ALTER TABLE
remove columns).

DROP TABLE Permanently deletes a table and its data.

TRUNCATE Removes all rows from a table but keeps its structure
TABLE intact.

WHERE Filters records based on a condition.

ORDER BY Sorts the result set in ascending or descending order.

Groups rows that have the same values in specified

GROUP BY
columns.

HAVING Filters grouped data (used with GROUP BY).

Combines rows from two or more tables based on a

JOIN
related column.

DISTINCT Removes duplicate values from the result set.

IN / BETWEEN /
Used for advanced filtering conditions.
LIKE
Command Description

UNION Combines the result of two or more SELECT queries.

GRANT Gives user privileges or permissions.

REVOKE Removes user privileges.

COMMIT Saves all changes made in the current transaction.

Undoes changes if something goes wrong in a

ROLLBACK
transaction.

SAVEPOINT Sets a point in a transaction to roll back to if needed.