SQL or Structured Query Language is a set of commands that helps interact with RDBMS systems. The syntax of these commands defines how to use SQL commands and how to define the parameters that the commands must use. An RDBMS or relational database management system will contain, in general, more than one database. Any of the databases stored in such a database management system will have one or more table in them. One part of SQL helps define and manipulate the database structure and the types of data housed in them, the part needed by most users is the part that tells you how to use the SQL commands for accessing and manipulating the data inside. The way to use SQL process must then start with specifying which database to be used within the database system. The how to process must then enable you to choose the specific table you want to use with your subsequent SQL commands? This article will focus on the use part, rather than defining and creating a database, which is of a more specialized use.

The SQL vocabulary of RDBMS products from different vendors vary quite a bit. However, a large set is common and is part of the standard defined by ANSI and ISO. Even through some commands and extensions will vary somewhat the process of how to use SQL with any of the products is similar. What you want to get done with a database is never just one action. It is rather a set of actions to accomplish some data update, retrieval or modification that is to be implemented. The way to use Structured Query Language in such a situation is to use a procedural programming language to issue the set of db commands to the RDMS system. Many of the SQL flavors created by the RDMS makers often have additional constructs that help this procedural style of generating the database commands to the database server. The transact SQL or the t-SQL that is the version of Microsoft for their SQL Server has these elements, for example. The transact SQL has introduced program control statements, local variable, etc. to help create a program loop that can issue multiple db commands and get a job accomplished.



USE is a keyword for the SQL command that specifies which particular database within an RDMS is to be used. SELECT command will help take a specific data in that selected database to be targeted for implementing the desired data manipulation. UPDATE, INSERT INTO are a couple of commands that help update field in a record or insert a complete or a part of a record(s). When using UPDATE command, there is a WHERE clause helps specify or filter an existing value in a particular column. This identifies the particular record whose fields need upgrading. Advanced options specify how to implement more sophisticated data manipulation through SQL.

Common SQL examples:

  • SQL SELECT TOP
  • SQL INNER JOIN
  • RIGHT OUTER JOIN
  • LEFT OUTER JOIN
  • SQL FULL JOIN
  • SQL UNION
  • SQL PRIMARY KEY
  • SQL Foreign KEY

The relational databases allow tables to be combined in various is through relational JOIN and UNION operations. For becoming conversant with how to use SQL you would need to be familiar with the table creating, modifying them and deleting them if necessary. Check out these resources on Structured Query Language

–http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms714670%28v=vs.85%29.aspx
–https://learningcomputer.com/sqlserver/transact_sql.html[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]