CHAPTER
SQL Overview
S QL tutorial gives unique learning on Structured Query Language and it helps to make practice on SQL
commands which provides immediate results. SQL is a language of database, it includes database creation,
deletion, fetching rows and modifying rows etc.
SQL is an ANSI (American National Standards Institute) standard, but there are many different versions of the
SQL language.
What is SQL?
SQL is Structured Query Language, which is a computer language for storing, manipulating and retrieving data
stored in relational database.
SQL is the standard language for Relation Database System. All relational database management systems like
MySQL, MS Access, Oracle, Sybase, Informix, postgres and SQL Server use SQL as standard database
language.
Also, they are using different dialects, such as:
MS SQL Server using T-SQL,
Oracle using PL/SQL,
MS Access version of SQL is called JET SQL (native format) etc.
Why SQL?
Allows users to access data in relational database management systems.
Allows users to describe the data.
Allows users to define the data in database and manipulate that data.
Allows to embed within other languages using SQL modules, libraries & pre-compilers.
Allows users to create and drop databases and tables.
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Allows users to create view, stored procedure, functions in a database.
Allows users to set permissions on tables, procedures and views
History:
1970 -- Dr. E. F. "Ted" of IBM is known as the father of relational databases. He described a relational model
for databases.
1974 -- Structured Query Language 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 and its later becoming Oracle.
SQL Process:
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 the process. These components are Query Dispatcher, Optimization
Engines, Classic Query Engine and SQL Query Engine, etc. Classic query engine handles all non-SQL queries,
but SQL query engine won't handle logical files.
Following is a simple diagram showing SQL Architecture:
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SQL Commands:
The standard SQL commands to interact with relational databases are CREATE, SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE,
DELETE and DROP. These commands can be classified into groups based on their nature:
DDL - Data Definition Language:
Command Description
CREATE Creates a new table, a view of a table, or other object in database
ALTER Modifies an existing database object, such as a table.
DROP Deletes an entire table, a view of a table or other object in the database.
DML - Data Manipulation Language:
Command Description
INSERT Creates a record
UPDATE Modifies records
DELETE Deletes records
DCL - Data Control Language:
Command Description
GRANT Gives a privilege to user
REVOKE Takes back privileges granted from user
DQL - Data Query Language:
Command Description
SELECT Retrieves certain records from one or more tables
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CHAPTER
SQL RDBMS Concepts
What is RDBMS?
R DBMS stands for Relational Database Management System. RDBMS is the basis for SQL and for all
modern database systems like MS SQL Server, IBM DB2, Oracle, MySQL, and Microsoft Access.
A Relational database management system (RDBMS) is a database management system (DBMS) that is based on
the relational model as introduced by E. F. Codd.
What is table?
The data0 in RDBMS is stored in database objects called tables. The table is a collection of related data entries
and it consists of columns and rows.
Remember, a table is the most common and simplest form of data storage in a relational database. Following is
the example of a CUSTOMERS table:
+----+----------+-----+-----------+----------+
| ID | NAME | AGE | ADDRESS | SALARY |
+----+----------+-----+-----------+----------+
| 1 | Ramesh | 32 | Ahmedabad | 2000.00 |
| 2 | Khilan | 25 | Delhi | 1500.00 |
| 3 | kaushik | 23 | Kota | 2000.00 |
| 4 | Chaitali | 25 | Mumbai | 6500.00 |
| 5 | Hardik | 27 | Bhopal | 8500.00 |
| 6 | Komal | 22 | MP | 4500.00 |
| 7 | Muffy | 24 | Indore | 10000.00 |
+----+----------+-----+-----------+----------+
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What is field?
Every table is broken up into smaller entities called fields. The fields in the CUSTOMERS table consist of ID,
NAME, AGE, ADDRESS and SALARY.
A field is a column in a table that is designed to maintain specific information about every record in the table.
What is record or row?
A record, also called a row of data, is each individual entry that exists in a table. For example, there are 7 records
in the above CUSTOMERS table. Following is a single row of data or record in the CUSTOMERS table:
+----+----------+-----+-----------+----------+
| 1 | Ramesh | 32 | Ahmedabad | 2000.00 |
+----+----------+-----+-----------+----------+
A record is a horizontal entity in a table.
What is column?
A column is a vertical entity in a table that contains all information associated with a specific field in a table.
For example, a column in the CUSTOMERS table is ADDRESS, which represents location description and would
consist of the following:
+-----------+
| ADDRESS |
+-----------+
| Ahmedabad |
| Delhi |
| Kota |
| Mumbai |
| Bhopal |
| MP |
| Indore |
+----+------+
What is NULL value?
A NULL value in a table is a value in a field that appears to be blank, which means a field with a NULL value is a
field with no value.
It is very important to understand that a NULL value is different than a zero value or a field that contains spaces. A
field with a NULL value is one that has been left blank during record creation.
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