Scribd
Upload
672 views

Database Languages

SQL is one of the most widely used database languages that allows users to define, manipulate, and retrieve data from relational databases. Database languages perform critical tasks like defining the database structure, inserting, updating, and deleting data, controlling access permissions, and managing transactions. There are different types of database languages including data definition languages for creating the database structure, data manipulation languages for accessing and modifying data, data control languages for setting permissions, and transaction control languages for managing transactions.

Uploaded by

Daniel Izevbuwa
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
672 views

Database Languages

SQL is one of the most widely used database languages that allows users to define, manipulate, and retrieve data from relational databases. Database languages perform critical tasks like defining the database structure, inserting, updating, and deleting data, controlling access permissions, and managing transactions. There are different types of database languages including data definition languages for creating the database structure, data manipulation languages for accessing and modifying data, data control languages for setting permissions, and transaction control languages for managing transactions.

Uploaded by

Daniel Izevbuwa
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

Database Languages

SQL
SQL, which stands for Structured Query Language, is one of the most well-known and longest-
running database languages. It features both data definition and data manipulation languages and
allows you to write queries in a database. Specifically, SQL provides a way for you to extract
and manage data in a relational database management system. This type of DBMS organizes data
into groups called relations. Because most relational databases use SQL as the database
language, many jobs in the IT industry may require their employees to have an understanding of
it.
Types of Database Languages and their uses
Databases serve an important function for many individuals and companies, providing a practical
way to organize and store information on a computer. In programming, developers use database
languages to maintain and monitor an electronic database and its management system. These
languages perform a variety of critical tasks that help a database management system function
correctly.
What are database languages?
Database languages, also known as query languages or data query languages, are a classification
of programming languages that developers use to define and access databases, which are
collections of organized data that users can access electronically. These languages allow users to
complete tasks such as controlling access to data, defining and updating data and searching for
information within the database management system (DBMS). A DBMS is a piece of technology
that interacts with users, applications and the database to record and analyze data while also
manipulating the database to offer a way to store, access and retrieve data.
A DBMS provides necessary database languages that allow users to express database updates
and queries, which are requests for data. There are different examples of database languages
available, including SQL, which is the standard programming language for many databases.
Database languages comprise four sublanguages that serve different functions to execute tasks.
5 categories of database languages
Here are five types of database languages and their uses:
1. Data definition language (DDL)
Data definition language (DDL) creates the framework of the database by specifying the
database schema, which is the structure that represents the organization of data. Its common uses
include the creation and alteration of tables, files, indexes and columns within the database. This
language also allows users to rename or drop the existing database or its components. Here's a
list of DDL statements:
(a) CREATE: Creates a new database or object, such as a table, index or column
(b) ALTER: Changes the structure of the database or object
(c) DROP: Deletes the database or existing objects including the structure of the tables
(d) RENAME: Renames the database or existing objects
(e) TRUNCATE: Removes all data from an existing table
Note that DDL statements cannot be rolledback.
2. Data manipulation language (DML)
Data manipulation language (DML) provides operations that handle user requests, offering a way
to access and manipulate the data that users store within a database. Its common functions
include inserting, updating and retrieving data from the database. Here's a list of DML
statements:
(a) INSERT: Adds new data to the existing database table
(b) UPDATE: Changes or updates values in the table
(c) DELETE: Removes records or rows from the table
3. Data control language (DCL)
Data control language (DCL) controls access to the data that users store within a database.
Essentially, this language controls the rights and permissions of the database system. It allows
users to grant or revoke privileges to the database. Here's a list of DCL statements:
(a) GRANT: Gives a user access to the database
(b) REVOKE: Removes a user's access to the database
4. Transaction control language (TCL)
Transaction control language (TCL) manages the transactions within a database. Transactions
group a set of related tasks into a single, executable task. All the tasks must succeed in order for
the transaction to work. Here's a list of TCL statements:
(a) COMMIT: Carries out a transaction
(b) ROLLBACK: Restores a transaction if any tasks fail to execute
(c) SAVEPOINT: Sets a point in a transaction to save
5. Data Query Language (DQL)
DQL statements are used for performing queries on the data within the schema object. The
purpose of DQL command is to get some schema relation based on the query passed to it. A
DQL statement is shown below:
SELECT: Retrieves data from the table or multiple tables

You might also like