What is SQL?

Question

I heard that it is some kind of programming thingie. Is that true? How does it work? Are there any similar programs that I can buy? Do you know a website where I can find out more about SQL?

Please help me! You don't need to awnser quickly. I will read every awnser, even the last one. The one with the most info will win best awnser, not the quickest one!

Answer 1

"SQL (Structured Query Language) is a computer language used to create, retrieve, update and delete data from relational database management systems." - from Wikipedia.



To learn SQL, you just need a relational database and a text editor, or some tool that allows you to write SQL queries and run them against the database.



Some databases that you can try:



Firebird:

http://www.firebirdsql.org/index.php



Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express:

http://www.microsoft.com/sql/editions/express/howtobuy.mspx

There is also a toolkit for MSSQL Express:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=3c856b93-369f-4c6f-9357-c35384179543&displaylang=en

And a Service Pack:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=31711D5D-725C-4AFA-9D65-E4465CDFF1E7&displaylang=en



Some tutorial sites and other SQL references are also listed on Wikipedia, eg.



http://beginner-sql-tutorial.com/

http://databases.about.com/od/sql/a/sqlbasics.htm



There are many, many references on the web that will teach you more about SQL. A good book may also be a good starting place for you.



Some book recommendations:

http://www.amazon.com/Sams-Teach-Yourself-Minutes-Third/dp/0672325675/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/105-6905623-1742058?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1180969606&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/SQL-Nutshell-2nd-Kevin-Kline/dp/0596004818/ref=pd_bbs_9/105-6905623-1742058?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1180969606&sr=8-9

Answer 2

SQL stands for structured querry language. Its used to store, manipulate and retrive data in a modern databases (like SQL Server, Oracle, MySql, DB2, Sybase etc) also known as RDBMS (Relational database management system). All major vendors of RDBMS system provide SQL language and its interface with the product which adhears to SQL-92 standards (not sure if they have changed the standard lately).

SQL is not a procedural language so it comes with some kind of procedural language bundled up with the RDBMS engine ( T-SQL in SQL Server, PL/SQL in Oracle etc)



If you learn SQL for one product its very similar to work with any other product. You can google "SQL" or "SQL tutorial" which will give you tons of resources to get more info abt databases and SQL. To start with I find following site ineresting www.sqlcourse.com/

Answer 3

SQL - Structured Query Language



It's a database language (MS SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL)



You use it to get,set,delete data (among other things).



For example, to get data from a table you would write:

Select * From MyTable



You can add a where clause to limit the records and an order by clause to sort the records.

Select * From MyTable Where FirstName = 'Bob' Order By LastName DESC

Answer 4

SQL is "Structured Query Language" used for development of Data Bases and used as programming language in ORACLE. Also there are PL-SQL(Programming language SQL) which have more features .

Answer 5

SQL is short for Structured Query Language. It is designed to be used with databases. You can manage a database, write data manipulation queries, even create virtual data objects with SQL. It is a computer language designed specifically to manipulate data in databases.

Answer 6

Sql is a query language where we can use different types of sql statements to store, retrive, delete, update records from relational database management system.

For more details click on http://praveen-sqltutorial.blogspot.in/

Answer 7

A varchar2 is a variable-length column. varchar2 (4000) ability the optimal length fee that is saved interior the sector is 4000 characters. For the day of the week, pick TO_CHAR(someDate, 'DAY')

Answer 8

You can learn about sql from http://www.SQLAuthority.com