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SQL - Overview
What is SQL?
SQL (Structured Query Language) is a language to operate databases; it includes
Database Creation, Database Deletion, Fetching Data Rows, Modifying & Deleting Data
rows, etc.
SQL stands for Structured Query Language which is a computer language for storing,
manipulating and retrieving data stored in a relational database. SQL was developed in
the 1970s by IBM Computer Scientists and became a standard of the American National
Standards Institute (ANSI) in 1986, and the International Organization for
Standardization (ISO) in 1987.
Though SQL is an ANSI (American National Standards Institute) standard
language, but there are many different dialects of the SQL language like MS
SQL Server is using T-SQL and Oracle is using PL/SQL.
SQL is the standard language to communicate with Relational Database Systems. All the
Relational Database Management Systems (RDMS) like MySQL, MS Access, Oracle,
Sybase, Informix, Postgres and SQL Server use SQL as their Standard Database
Language.
Why SQL?
SQL is widely popular because it offers the following advantages −
Allows users to access data in the relational database management systems.
Allows users to describe the data.
Allows users to define the data in a database and manipulate that data.
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Allows to embed within other languages using SQL modules, libraries & pre-
compilers.
Allows users to create and drop databases and tables.
Allows users to create view, stored procedure, functions in a database.
Allows users to set permissions on tables, procedures and views.
A Brief History of SQL
1970 − Dr. Edgar F. "Ted" Codd of IBM is known as the father of relational
databases. He described a relational model for databases.
1974 − Structured Query Language (SQL) appeared.
1978 − IBM worked to develop Codd's ideas and released a product named
System/R.
1986 − IBM developed the first prototype of relational database and
standardized by ANSI. The first relational database was released by Relational
Software which later came to be known as Oracle.
1987 − SQL became the part of the International Organization for
Standardization (ISO).
How SQL Works?
When you are executing an SQL command for any RDBMS, the system determines the
best way to carry out your request and SQL engine figures out how to interpret the task.
There are various components included in this process. These components are −
Query Dispatcher
Optimization Engines
Classic Query Engine
SQL Query Engine, etc.
A classic query engine handles all the non-SQL queries, but a SQL query engine won't
handle logical files. Following is a simple diagram showing the SQL Architecture −
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