Introduction to SQL Structured Query Language

This tutorial is a detailed Introduction to SQL Structured Query Language. You will learn the importance and use of SQL in today's programming word.

Introduction to SQL Structured Query Language

Introduction to Structured Query Language (SQL)

Welcome to our detailed tutorial on SQL, where you will learn Structured Query Language from beginning and master this language. This technology is used to interact with the database and manage data stored inside the database server. As a beginner you should have an understanding of computer programming and working of the computer. This tutorial will teach you SQL and provide you skills for handling data on the Database server.

SQL - Structured Query Language

Introduction to Structured Query Language (SQL) - Learn to work with the Database servers

There is widespread use of various database servers for managing business data at scale. These days different types of database servers are available to meet demand for today's applications. The full form of SQL is Structured Query Language, which is a query language for management of database systems. It is mandatory for the developer, data analyst, or database administrator to learn and master SQL. So, if you want to make a career in the software development industry then it's mandatory to learn SQL. This article provides you with a detailed introduction to Structured Query Language (SQL).

What is SQL?

Structured query language or SQL for short is a programming language, which is developed for managing the database. The SQL is pronounced "ess-cue-ell" or "sequel," and it has been popular since its invention in the 1970s. These days SQL has been used in almost all the software projects for storing and processing the business data in a relational database such as MySQL. The SQL programming language is designed to work against databases for creating and managing databases. Tables are used to store the data in the database. In relational database tables are used to store data in the form of tabular form such as rows and columns.

You can use the SQL for connecting to the database and work with the data stored in the database. SQL is a fundamental programming language for database interaction and it is used to create tables, add data to table, select data from table(s), update data into table(s) and many other such operations.

SQL is also used to maintain and manage databases. It is used to perform activities such as database optimization and performance monitoring. So, it's necessary to learn SQL, experiment by making programs and master the language. In this section I will provide you links to tutorials for learning this language.

Here are the uses of SQL:

Here are the uses of SQL in today's data world, where we have to store and process tons of business data at high speed:

Uses of SQL

  • Data Manipulation: SQL is used for adding, updating, deleting and searching (CRUD) data from databases.
     
  • Data Definition: SQL is used to define the database objects such as database, tables, views, stored procedures etc. You can use SQL for working with database structures like tables, indexes, and schemas.
     
  • Access Control: You can use SQL query for managing the user permissions and security.

History of SQL

SQL was first invented in 1970s at IBM, where Donald D. Chamberlin and Raymond F. Boyce worked towards development of a language called "Structured English Query Language" (SEQUEL). This language was developed as a part of the System R project. Later the name of the project was shortened to SQL and later on Oracle (formerly known as Relational Software) became the first vendor of commercial SQL RDBMS.

  • 1970s SQL was developed at IBM with the name "Structured English Query Language" (SEQUEL)
     
  • Oracle (formerly known as Relational Software) became the first vendor of commercial SQL RDBMS
     
  • In 1986, SQL became a standard at American National Standards Institute (ANSI)

Later in 1986, SQL became a standard at the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), which later also became a standard at International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Now SQL is being used by all the relational databases as a standard language for taking to the database. SQL can be used with all the database servers including MySQL, PostgreSQL, Oracle Database, and Microsoft SQL Server for managing data on these servers.

Why is SQL so important in programming?

SQL is very popular and this is one programming language that almost all programmers are aware of and used in their application development. This programming language is used very frequently in all types of application development. So, if you have a dream of becoming a programmer then it's mandatory to learn SQL. SQL is used by backend developers to interact with the database while analytics engineers use SQL for analyzing the data.

It is mandatory to learn and master SQL so that developers and analysts leverage the full potential out of it in their work. While working on the large dataset it is mandatory to write efficient SQL query for optimum performance of the database. SQL is easy to learn programming language but it takes time to master this.

SQL is a universal language used in almost all the applications having backend as relational database system. SQL is an easy language to learn and it makes it an easy language for the beginners. SQL supports transitions which ensures data integrity by maintaining data consistency, accuracy, and security through constraints and transactional control. SQL programming language, which is in very high demand and there are many openings as Database Administrator and developers. 

How can SQL be used?

SQL is programming language for relational databases and it can be used to achieve these things:

  • Run SQL against the database to perform certain operations like adding records, finding records or updating database objects.
     
  • The most frequent use case of SQL is to retrieve data from the database tables
     
  • SQL can be used to insert records in tables
     
  • SQL can also be used to update existing records in a database table
     
  • You can use the SQL query to delete all or specific records from a table
     
  • SQL DDL statements are used create new database
     
  • SQL Queries is used for creating database tables
     
  • With the help of SQL can create database objects such as stored procedures, functions, views etc. in the database

SQL is an advanced programming language yet easy to learn that enables the administrators and developers to manage database engines. SQL allows the users to perform data management activities such as data querying, data insertion, updation and deletion. SQL queries are used by the data analytics to perform various types of data analytics tasks on the data stored into relational databases. SQL is to process data quickly in different vertices including e-commerce, finance, healthcare, and others.

SQL works as a bridge between humans and the machine (database servers) for managing and processing large amounts of data. It is also used for running various data analysis activities on large datasets. 

What are the components of a SQL System?

SQL is a programming language which is used to store and manage data residing under the database. There are many relational databases including MS SQL Server, MySQL, MS Access, which are used these days. These are the components of SQL System:

SQL Table: SQL Table is used to store data in relational databases in the form of rows and columns.

SQL Statements: The SQL statements such as select, insert, update and delete are used to manage data stored inside tables in the database.

Stored procedures: The Stored procedures are database objects that run on the database server and perform operations on the database. In the stored procedures you can write SQL statements to work with the data stored inside the database.

Other components of the database include sequences, views, materialized views, functions and so on. In this SQL Tutorials section we will see examples of all these one by one.

Benefits of Using SQL

SQL is a powerful programming language to interact with databases. Here are the benefits of using SQL:

  • Easy to learn: SQL is easy to learn programming language
     
  • SQL all in one tool: SQL is all in one tool for working with the database
     
  • Support for IDE: SQL queries can be used in the SQL IDE which makes it easy to work with the databases.
     
  • Support for performing complex searches: SQL is a powerful language that supports complex search queries.
     
  • Community Support: There are large number of users and public community for support

Learning SQL

Now after understanding Structured Query Language (SQL) you should go ahead and understand these topics to make solid base in the SQL Programming:

  • How does SQL work?
  • What are SQL commands?
  • What are SQL standards?
  • What is SQL injection?
  • What is MySQL?
  • What is NoSQL?
  • What is a SQL server?

Tutorials

  1. SQL Alter Table Primary Key tutorial
  2. SQL Date, SQL Date Examples
  3. MySql Remove Tutorials
  4. PHP SQL Timestamp
  5. Mysql Date in where clause
  6. MySQL Alter Tutorial, Database MySQL MySQL Crash Tutorial Tutorial
  7. MySQL Examples, Learn MySQL with examples.
  8. MySQL Injection
  9. Mysql Update command
  10. Mysql Trigger After Delete
  11. Mysql Date Part Only
  12. MySQL Append Column
  13. SQL-introduction
  14. Data Normalization
  15. Create a database
  16. The INSERT INTO Statement
  17. The UPDATE Statement
  18. The DELETE Statement
  19. The SELECT statement for SQL
  20. WHERE Statement in SQL
  21. Aggregate Functions
  22. SQL Example, Codes and Tutorials
  23. SQL for Beginner
  24. SQL Introduction
  25. Create Table in Database
  26. Insert Records in Table
  27. Select data from Table in Database
  28. Update Records in Database
  29. Delete a Records in Database
  30. Where Clause in SQL
  31. Drop Table in Database
  32. SQL UNION ALL Operator
  33. SQL Right JOIN
  34. SQL BETWEEN Operator
  35. SQL AND Statement
  36. SQL Add Column Position
  37. SQL Example, Codes and Tutorials
  38. SQL % Wildcards
  39. SQL UNIQUE Constraint
  40. SQL UNION Operator