Database questions?

[BobTheSlob]

I have a few questions concerning databases and such.

1. SQL - Structured Query Language - What exactly is it? I'm fairly sure its the standardized language used to communicate with databases. That correct?
2. Oracle8i, Access, MySQl, MiniSQL, Informix, MicrosoftSQL and some others, are databases themselves, right? And you would use SQL to use these databases?
3. MySQL, MiniSQL, Microsoft SQL - SQL is in the name because you can use SQL to communicate with it, right?

Anyone please respond. Wanna get this stuff straight

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[Klashe]

Originally posted by BobTheSlob:
I have a few questions concerning databases and such.

1. SQL - Structured Query Language - What exactly is it? I'm fairly sure its the standardized language used to communicate with databases. That correct?
2. Oracle8i, Access, MySQl, MiniSQL, Informix, MicrosoftSQL and some others, are databases themselves, right? And you would use SQL to use these databases?
3. MySQL, MiniSQL, Microsoft SQL - SQL is in the name because you can use SQL to communicate with it, right?

Anyone please respond. Wanna get this stuff straight

1. SQL is a powerful database language. You have tables and there is a language to get information out of these tables. Tables can be related to one another via keys . A simple command in SQL is like:

select * from MyTable where COLUMN1 = "Hiya" and COLUMN2 = 45;

which selects all row from table MyTable where the contents of those rows are there are two values Hiya and 45.
The more complex the database the longer the commands are to select tables. For instatnce, at an insurance company which my company is doing a project for, in order to select information about insurance claims, someone has to write a five page query like the one above.

2. I'm not sure about access, but Oracle and the others, I'm pretty sure you use SQL to get info.

3. Not really sure...but it sure sounds like it!

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[turp182]

In response to #2:
Oracle, SQL Server, and Informix all conform to Ansi SQL. It's a standard language definition (much like C or C++). Every vendor has enhancements to the language for improved performance, but they all accept the standard. Standards bodies do not move as fast as database vendors would like...

MS Access however does not. It uses it's own "flavor" of SQL, which can make it a bit of a pain to access once in a while.

In response to #3:
Those are probably just various "flavors" of SQL. I bet they support the majority of the standard structure, but they will have thier own specialites.

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[BobTheSlob]

Ok. Thanks =) That cleared it up nicely.

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I LOVE ACRONYMS!!!AFK, DSL, LOL, ASP, HTML, ATA, SCSI, FSB, MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[Petlor]

Sorta in reply to #3:

Microsoft's implementation of the SQL language for SQLServer is called T-SQL. As was mentioned, it conforms to the ANSI standard with enhancements.

MySQL, PostgresSQL, SQLServer, Oracle, etc are all database programs that allow you to write queries in SQL to manipulate data.

If you are working on learning how to do databse work, Access is ok as a beginner's tool, but it's just not cut out for serious 'bidness. It's kinda like a kids bike where the training wheels won't come off.

-Petlor

[100%TotallyNude]

Ah, SQL. I have nothing to add here, everyone else has done a decent job. Just pumping my posts again...


[This message has been edited by 100%TotallyNude (edited January 08, 2001).]