Week 6- What is SQL?

SQL, which stands for Structured Query Language, is a program language specifically designed for managing data. The language is specifically used for updating, deleting and requesting information from databases. The four main functions that SQL selecting performs are selecting, inserting, updating and deleting data. By utilizing SQL, these types of functions allow seamless communication and manipulations to different databases. Database management can be an extremely difficult process and SQL helps make this task more manageable. (Chamberlin 1981)

SQL was first developed in the early 1970s by Dr. E.F. Codd. It was first developed as SEQUEL, or Structured English Query Language, which would later become SQL. This type of language was specifically developed for providing a standard for accessing and manipulating IBM databases. This database base manipulation language was the standardized by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) in 1986. The International Standards Organizations (ISO) also approves of SQL.  SQL became universally accepted and is still used today, although it has been enhanced many times. (Kline 2004)

The language that SQL utilizes is specifically designed for data within a relational database management system (RDBMS). This system is the primary engines of information systems across the globe and are heavily used in web applications and client/server communications. Users of RDMS systems view data as a collection of tables that are related to one another through a series of common data values. SQL allows the user to easily manage these tables and manipulate the data. Through the SQL language, users can perform tasks such as merge or delete with relative eases.

Comments

Brian Benson- Very good post covering rational database theory. I think it’s amazing that databases as advanced as this could be created over 40 years ago. E.F. Cod was certainly a genius and provided the modern age with many tools that enable us to store the mass amounts of data that is used on a daily basis. His ideas were nothing but revolutionary and hopefully the future leaders in database design can make them even stronger and easier to use.

Ted Bruder- Excellent post that defines the importance of databases. People may not think that technology such as this plays a big role in construction, but as your post points out, it most certainly does. Time is extremely valuable today and easily accessing data is imperative to run a well-organized company. I believe that in order to transition into the future and stay competitive, many companies, not just construction companies, will need to utilize database management effectively.

References

Chamberlin, D. D., Gilbert, A. M., & Yost, R. A. (1981, September). A history of System R and SQL/data system. In VLDB (pp. 456-464).

Kline, K., Hunt, B., & Kline, D. (2004). SQL in a nutshell: a desktop quick reference. O'Reilly Media, Inc..