The term SQL stands for Structured Query Language.
These days, data has become one of the most important areas of study and work. In fact, the digital world revolves around data completely. Services such as Facebook and Google have all been made possible because of the acute need for data. These companies gather data from their users and provide them to marketers and advertisers. In turn, marketers make use of the data to develop marketing strategies and campaigns that attract their customers more effectively.
The above is just one example of the important role played by data in our society. Now, simply having data is not enough. You need to be able to manage it in an effective manner as well. For that, you need an excellent database management system.
This is where SQL comes in. It is widely considered to be one of the most popular database engines.
SQL Introduction
This is a computer language that is used for storing, retrieving, and manipulating the data kept in a relational database. When it comes to relational database systems, the standard language used in Structured Query Language. In fact, all relational database systems such as MS Access, MySQL, Oracle, and Sybase makes use of Structured Query Language as its standard language. However, these systems use their own dialects of the language. Take a look at some of them below:
- T-SQL is used by MS SQL Server
- PL/SQL is used Oracle
- JET SQL is the version of SQL used by MS Access
SQL Process
Before we proceed any further, it is a good idea to become familiar with the Structured Query Language process. When an SQL command is being executed, the system, irrespective of the RDBMS being used, will determine the best way for carrying out the request. The SQL engine will determine how the task is going to be interpreted.
Several components are present in the process. Some of the components are Optimization Engines, Query Dispatcher, SQL Query Engine, and Classic Query Engine. The classic query engine will handle all the non-SQL queries. However, the SQL query engine is not going to handle the logical files. Apart from this, ACID properties play a major role in Database Management Systems.
Why use SQL?
There are several reasons as to why SQL is used by database systems. Let’s go through some of those reasons here:
- Structured Query Language enables the data to be described by the users.
- It allows the data stored in relational database management
systems to be accessed by the users. - Users can define the data stored in a database and even
manipulate the data with Structured Query Language. - Structured Query Language enables it to be embedded inside other languages with the
the help of SQL libraries, pre-compilers, and modules. - Users will be able to create databases and tables and drop them
- Users can use Structured Query Language to create functions, views, and procedures in the database.
- Structured Query Language allows the users to define and set permissions on procedures, tables, and views.
History of SQL
Structured Query Language is quite old. Its origins can be traced all the way back to 1970. In 1970, a relational model of databases was described by Dr. Edgar F.Codd while working at IBM. He is often referred to as the father of relational databases. However, it was not until 1974 that Structured Query Language actually appeared. Using the ideas of Codd, IBM began to work on such a system resulting in the creation of System/R which was released in 1978.
Relational Software, Inc. also realized the potential of the ideas laid down by Codd and began to work on those concepts. The company, which would later come to be called Oracle Corporation, released the Oracle V2 in 1979. This was the first implementation of Structured Query Language that was available commercially.
Finally, in 1986, the first prototype of a relational database system was developed by IBM. ANSI standardized it as well.
