- DBMS - Data Independence
- DBMS - Data Schemas
- DBMS - Data Models
- DBMS - Architecture
- DBMS - Overview
- DBMS - Home
Entity Relationship Model
Relational Model
- DBMS- SQL Overview
- DBMS - ER to Relational Model
- DBMS - Relational Algebra
- DBMS - Relational Data Model
Relational Database Design
Storage and File Structure
Indexing and Hashing
Transaction And Concurrency
Backup and Recovery
DBMS Useful Resources
Selected Reading
- Who is Who
- Computer Glossary
- HR Interview Questions
- Effective Resume Writing
- Questions and Answers
- UPSC IAS Exams Notes
SQL Overview
SQL is a programming language for Relational Databases. It is designed over relational algebra and tuple relational calculus. SQL comes as a package with all major distributions of RDBMS.
SQL comprises both data definition and data manipulation languages. Using the data definition properties of SQL, one can design and modify database schema, whereas data manipulation properties allows SQL to store and retrieve data from database.
Data Definition Language
SQL uses the following set of commands to define database schema −
CREATE
Creates new databases, tables and views from RDBMS.
For example −
Create database tutorialspoint; Create table article; Create view for_students;
DROP
Drops commands, views, tables, and databases from RDBMS.
For example−
Drop object_type object_name; Drop database tutorialspoint; Drop table article; Drop view for_students;
ALTER
Modifies database schema.
Alter object_type object_name parameters;
For example−
Alter table article add subject varchar;
This command adds an attribute in the relation article with the name subject of string type.
Data Manipulation Language
SQL is equipped with data manipulation language (DML). DML modifies the database instance by inserting, updating and deleting its data. DML is responsible for all forms data modification in a database. SQL contains the following set of commands in its DML section −
SELECT/FROM/WHERE
INSERT INTO/VALUES
UPDATE/SET/WHERE
DELETE FROM/WHERE
These basic constructs allow database programmers and users to enter data and information into the database and retrieve efficiently using a number of filter options.
SELECT/FROM/WHERE
SELECT − This is one of the fundamental query command of SQL. It is similar to the projection operation of relational algebra. It selects the attributes based on the condition described by WHERE clause.
FROM − This clause takes a relation name as an argument from which attributes are to be selected/projected. In case more than one relation names are given, this clause corresponds to Cartesian product.
WHERE − This clause defines predicate or conditions, which must match in order to quapfy the attributes to be projected.
For example −
Select author_name From book_author Where age > 50;
This command will yield the names of authors from the relation book_author whose age is greater than 50.
INSERT INTO/VALUES
This command is used for inserting values into the rows of a table (relation).
Syntax−
INSERT INTO table (column1 [, column2, column3 ... ]) VALUES (value1 [, value2, value3 ... ])
Or
INSERT INTO table VALUES (value1, [value2, ... ])
For example −
INSERT INTO tutorialspoint (Author, Subject) VALUES ("anonymous", "computers");
UPDATE/SET/WHERE
This command is used for updating or modifying the values of columns in a table (relation).
Syntax −
UPDATE table_name SET column_name = value [, column_name = value ...] [WHERE condition]
For example −
UPDATE tutorialspoint SET Author="webmaster" WHERE Author="anonymous";
DELETE/FROM/WHERE
This command is used for removing one or more rows from a table (relation).
Syntax −
DELETE FROM table_name [WHERE condition];
For example −
DELETE FROM tutorialspoints WHERE Author="unknown";Advertisements