Understanding SQL Sublanguages
SQL (Structured Query Language) is a programming language used for managing and manipulating relational databases. It was first introduced in the 1970s and has since then become the standard language for working with databases.
SQL is a versatile language that allows users to perform a wide range of operations on databases, such as querying, inserting, updating, and deleting data. However, SQL is a vast language that can be quite complex and confusing, especially for beginners.
To simplify SQL, it has been divided into four sublanguages, each designed for a specific purpose. In this article, we will discuss these sublanguages in detail.
What are Sublanguages in SQL?
As mentioned earlier, SQL is a vast language that can perform a wide range of operations.
Sublanguages are a way of dividing the language into smaller units based on their purpose. Each sublanguage serves a specific function and is designed to simplify the language by grouping similar operations together.
The Four Sublanguages of SQL
There are four sublanguages in SQL, and they are data query language (DQL), data manipulation language (DML), data definition language (DDL), and data control language (DCL).
Data Query Language (DQL)
DQL is the sublanguage used for querying data from a database. The primary command used in DQL is the SELECT statement, and it is used to retrieve data from one or more database tables.
The SELECT statement can be customized in various ways to filter, sort, and aggregate data.
Data Manipulation Language (DML)
DML is the sublanguage used for manipulating data in a database. DML includes commands for inserting, updating, and deleting data.
The primary commands used in DML are INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE. The INSERT command is used to add new records to a database table, the UPDATE command is used to modify existing records, and the DELETE command is used to remove records from a database table.
Data Definition Language (DDL)
DDL is the sublanguage used for defining the structure of a database. DDL includes commands for creating, altering, and dropping database objects such as tables, views, indexes, and stored procedures.
The primary commands used in DDL are CREATE TABLE, ALTER TABLE, and DROP TABLE. The CREATE TABLE command is used to create a new database table, the ALTER TABLE command is used to modify the structure of an existing table, and the DROP TABLE command is used to delete a table from the database.
Data Control Language (DCL)
DCL is the sublanguage used for managing database security. DCL includes commands for granting and revoking permissions to access database objects.
The primary commands used in DCL are GRANT, REVOKE, and DENY. The GRANT command is used to grant a user or role permission to access a database object, the REVOKE command is used to revoke a permission, and the DENY command is used to deny a user or role permission to access a database object.
Dividing SQL into Sublanguages
SQL is a powerful language, but it can be quite daunting for beginners. Dividing SQL into sublanguages makes it easier to learn and understand.
Each sublanguage serves a specific purpose, and grouping similar operations together streamlines the process of learning the language.
The Need for Sublanguages
Dividing SQL into sublanguages makes it easier to manage and work with databases. Sublanguages allow users to focus only on the subset of operations that are relevant to their task, which makes it easier to learn and use the language.
Furthermore, sublanguages allow for greater separation of responsibilities when it comes to database management. For example, a database administrator might be responsible for managing database objects using DDL, while a developer might be responsible for querying and manipulating data using DQL and DML.
Conclusion
SQL is an essential language in database administration and development. While it can be complex and challenging, dividing SQL into sublanguages makes it easier to learn and understand.
Each sublanguage serves a specific purpose and is designed to simplify the language by grouping similar operations together. DQL is used for querying data, DML is used for manipulating data, DDL is used for defining the structure of a database, and DCL is used for managing database security.
By breaking down SQL into sublanguages, managing and working with databases becomes more manageable, and learning the language becomes more accessible.
Data Query Language (DQL)
Data Query Language (DQL) is a sublanguage of SQL that is used to retrieve data from a database. DQL commands are designed to query data from one or more tables, filter and sort data, and calculate aggregate data.
Definition and Purpose of DQL
DQL is designed to retrieve data from a database. It works by using the SELECT statement, which is the primary command used in DQL.
The purpose of the SELECT statement is to retrieve data from one or more database tables.
Example of Using SELECT to Query Data from a Table
The SELECT statement is used to retrieve data from a table. Here is an example of using the SELECT statement to retrieve data from a table:
SELECT column1, column2, column3
FROM table_name;In the example above, column1, column2, and column3 are the column names of the data we want to retrieve. The FROM keyword tells the database the name of the table we want to query.
Using the WHERE Clause to Filter Query Results
The WHERE clause is used to filter the query results. It works by evaluating each record in a table and testing it against a set of conditions.
Only those records that meet those conditions will be returned. Here is an example of using the WHERE clause with the SELECT statement to retrieve data from a table:
SELECT column1, column2, column3
FROM table_name
WHERE condition;In the example above, condition is the condition that the record must meet to be returned. You can use comparison operators such as >, <, =, !=, and LIKE to create conditions.
Data Manipulation Language (DML)
Data Manipulation Language (DML) is a sublanguage of SQL that is used to manipulate data in a database. DML commands are designed to add, edit, and delete data from tables.
Definition and Purpose of DML
DML is designed to manipulate data in a database. It works by using commands to insert new records, edit existing records, or delete existing records.
Example of Using INSERT to Add a Row to a Table
The INSERT command is used to add a new row to a table. Here is an example of using the INSERT command to add data to a table:
INSERT INTO table_name (column1, column2, column3)
VALUES (value1, value2, value3);In the example above, table_name is the name of the table we want to add data to.
Column1, column2, and column3 are the columns we want to add data to. Value1, value2, and value3 are the values we want to add to the corresponding columns.
Using UPDATE to Edit Existing Data
The UPDATE command is used to edit data in a table. Here is an example of using the UPDATE command to edit data in a table:
UPDATE table_name
SET column_name1 = new_value1, column_name2 = new_value2
WHERE condition;In the example above, table_name is the name of the table we want to edit. Column_name1 and column_name2 are the columns we want to edit.
New_value1 and new_value2 are the new values we want to replace the old values with. The WHERE clause is used to specify which records we want to edit.
Using DELETE to Remove Data from a Table
The DELETE command is used to remove data from a table. Here is an example of using the DELETE command to remove data from a table:
DELETE
FROM table_name
WHERE condition;In the example above, table_name is the name of the table we want to remove data from.
The WHERE clause is used to specify which records we want to remove.
Conclusion
DQL and DML are both essential sublanguages of SQL. DQL is designed to retrieve data from a database, while DML is designed to manipulate data in a database.
The SELECT statement is the primary command used in DQL and is used to retrieve data from a table. The WHERE clause is used to filter the query results.
The INSERT command is used to add new records to a table. The UPDATE command is used to edit existing records, and the DELETE command is used to remove records from a table.
By learning DQL and DML, you can become proficient at manipulating databases and extracting valuable information from them.
Data Definition Language (DDL)
Data Definition Language (DDL) is a sublanguage of SQL that is used to define the structure of a database. DDL commands are designed to create, modify, and delete database objects like tables, views, indexes, and stored procedures.
Definition and Purpose of DDL
DDL is designed to define the structure of a database. It works by using commands to create tables, views, indexes, and other database objects.
DDL also allows you to modify the structure of existing tables and indexes or delete them entirely.
Example of Using CREATE TABLE to Create a New Table
The CREATE TABLE command is used to create a new table. Here is an example of using the CREATE TABLE command to create a new table:
CREATE TABLE table_name (
column1 datatype,
column2 datatype,
column3 datatype,
..... );In the example above, table_name is the name of the new table we want to create.
Column1, column2, and column3 are the names of the columns in the new table. Datatype is the data type of the columns we are creating.
Using ALTER TABLE to Modify an Existing Table
The ALTER TABLE command is used to modify the structure of an existing table. Here is an example of using the ALTER TABLE command to modify an existing table:
ALTER TABLE table_name ADD column_name datatype;In the example above, table_name is the name of the table we want to modify.
Column_name is the name of the new column we want to add to the table, and datatype is the data type of the column we are adding.
Using DROP TABLE to Delete a Table
The DROP TABLE command is used to delete an entire table. Here is an example of using the DROP TABLE command to delete a table:
DROP TABLE table_name;In the example above, table_name is the name of the table we want to delete.
Data Control Language (DCL)
Data Control Language (DCL) is a sublanguage of SQL that is used to manage database security. DCL commands are designed to manage the permissions and roles assigned to different users of a database.
Definition and Purpose of DCL
DCL is designed to manage the security of a database. It works by using commands to assign permissions and roles to different users of a database.
Using GRANT to Assign Permissions to a Database User
The GRANT command is used to assign a particular permission to a user. Here is an example of using the GRANT command to assign permissions to a database user:
GRANT permission1, permission2, ....
ON object_name
TO {user_name | role_name | public};In the example above, permission1, permission2, etc., are the permissions that we want to assign to the user. Object_name is the object to which we are assigning permissions, such as a table or view.
User_name is the name of the user we want to assign permissions to, while role_name is the name of the role we want to assign permissions to.
Using DENY to Explicitly Deny a Permission to a User
The DENY command is used to explicitly deny a particular permission to a user. Here is an example of using the DENY command to deny a user a specific permission:
DENY permission1, permission2, ....
ON object_name
TO {user_name | role_name | public};In the example above, permission1, permission2, etc., are the permissions that we want to deny the user. Object_name is the object to which we are denying permissions, such as a table or view.
Using REVOKE to Reverse a GRANT or DENY Command
The REVOKE command is used to reverse a previously executed GRANT or DENY command. Here is an example of using the REVOKE command to reverse a previously executed GRANT command:
REVOKE permission1, permission2, ....
ON object_name
FROM {user_name | role_name | public};In the example above, permission1, permission2, etc., are the permissions that we want to revoke from the user. Object_name is the object from which we are revoking permissions, such as a table or view.
Conclusion
DDL and DCL are essential sublanguages of SQL. DDL allows you to define the structure of a database and modify it as necessary, while DCL allows you to manage the security of a database by assigning permissions and roles to users.
By learning DDL and DCL, you can become proficient in managing and securing database structures, making it easier to ensure that your database functions properly and is easy to navigate and use. In conclusion, SQL is a powerful and versatile language used for managing and manipulating relational databases.
Dividing SQL into sublanguages makes it easier to learn and use by grouping similar operations together and streamlining the process of learning the language.
Data Query Language (DQL) is used to retrieve data,
Data Manipulation Language (DML) is used to manipulate data,
Data Definition Language (DDL) is used to define the structure of a database, and
Data Control Language (DCL) is used to manage database security. By learning these sublanguages, users can become proficient at manipulating databases and extracting valuable information from them, making it easier to manage and secure database structures and allowing for an efficient and optimized user experience.