SQL 

SQL or Structured Query Language is a data language which is used to communicate with the database. According to American National Standards Institute or ANSI, the SQL  is main language for the RDBMS (relational database management systems). This language is non procedural. SQL was introduced by IBM Corporation and standardized by ANSI and ISO (International Standard Organization) in 1986. Oracle was the first company to release a product that used SQL. SQL has structure just as English or any other language. It has rules of grammar and syntax and they are basically the normal rule of English speaking and easily understood. SQL statements are used to do tasks such as retrieve data from a database or update data on the database. Some of the general relational database management systems which uses the SQL are Sybase, Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, Ingres, Access, and many more. Even though many of the database systems use the Structured Query Language, many of them also have their own extra proprietary extensions which are generally only utilized on their system.

SQL *PLUS is an Oracle specific program, which accepts and executes SQL commands and PL/SQL blocks. SQL *PLUS allow us to manipulate SQL commands and PL/SQL blocks. It also performs many additional tasks as given below:

• enter, edit, retrieve, store and run SQL commands and PL/SQL blocks,
•  format, store, calculations and print query results in the form of reports,
•  list column definition for any table,
• access and copy data between SQL databases,
• send and retrieve messages from end users.

The SQY is used by many of the modem multi-user, relational databases. Since the  SQL provides the idioms and syntax (language) which you have to  talk to (query) the  relational databases in the  standardized, structured or cross- platform way.

Questionnaire:

• What is SQL? Explain.