SQL is a standard language for accessing and manipulating databases. It allows users to perform functions like querying data, inserting records, updating records, and deleting records. The main SQL statements are SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, CREATE, ALTER, and DROP. SQL also includes clauses like WHERE, ORDER BY, GROUP BY and JOIN that allow users to filter and sort query results. Common data definition language statements are used to create and modify database structures like tables, indexes, and relationships.