Databases Beginner

What is SQL?

Structured Query Language — the standard language for managing and querying data in relational databases.

SQL is used to create, read, update, and delete data in relational databases. Key statements include SELECT (query), INSERT (add), UPDATE (modify), DELETE (remove), CREATE TABLE, and ALTER TABLE.

SQL supports complex operations like JOINs (combining tables), GROUP BY (aggregation), subqueries, transactions, and views. Major SQL databases include PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server, and Oracle.

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Related Terms

A query that transforms rows into columns, creating a pivot table view of aggregated data.

A column or set of columns that uniquely identifies each row in a database table.

Prepared Statement

A pre-compiled SQL template that uses parameters instead of literal values, preventing SQL injection and improving performance.

A database object that enables row-by-row processing of query results, useful for operations that cannot be done in bulk.

Database Sharding

A horizontal scaling strategy that distributes data across multiple database servers based on a partition key.

A middleware server that sits between applications and databases, providing connection pooling, load balancing, and query routing.

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