What is SQL?
SQL (pronounced "ess-que-el") stands for Structured Query Language.
SQL is used to communicate with a database.
According to ANSI (American National Standards Institute), it is the standard
language for relational database management systems.
Some common relational database management systems (RDBMS)
that use SQL are Oracle, IBM DB2, Sybase, Microsoft SQL Server, Access
and Ingres.
The standard SQL commands such as "Select", "Insert", "Update", "Delete",
"Create", and "Drop" can be used to accomplish almost everything that one
needs to do with a database.
(Source: http://www.sqlcourse.com/intro.html)
SUMMARY OF SQL STATEMENTS
Source:
http://www.orafaq.com/faq/what_are_the_difference_between_ddl_dml_and_dcl_commands
DDL
Data Definition Language (DDL) statements are used to define the database structure or schema. Some examples:
o CREATE - to create objects in the database
o DROP - delete objects from the database
o ALTER - alters the structure of the database
o TRUNCATE - remove all records from a table, including all spaces allocated for the records are removed
o COMMENT - add comments to the data dictionary
o RENAME - rename an object
DML
Data Manipulation Language (DML) statements are used for managing data within schema objects. Some examples:
o SELECT - retrieve data from the a database
o INSERT - insert data into a table
o UPDATE - updates existing data within a table
o DELETE - deletes all records from a table, the space for the records remain
o MERGE - UPSERT operation (insert or update)
o CALL - call a PL/SQL or Java subprogram
o EXPLAIN PLAN - explain access path to data
o LOCK TABLE - control concurrency
DCL
Data Control Language (DCL) statements. Some examples:
o GRANT - gives user's access privileges to database
o REVOKE - withdraw access privileges given with the GRANT command
TCL
Transaction Control (TCL) statements are used to manage the changes made by DML statements. It allows
statements to be grouped together into logical transactions.
o COMMIT - save work done
o SAVEPOINT - identify a point in a transaction to which you can later roll back
o ROLLBACK - restore database to original since the last COMMIT
o SET TRANSACTION - Change transaction options like isolation level and what rollback segment to use