Structured Query Language Made Simple
Fukula Hastings Nyekanyeka

The aim of this site is to provide an beginner's introductory tutorial on the basics building blocks of SQL (Structured Query Language), the standard language for accessing relational databases such as Oracle, Sybase, Informix and many more

Structured Query Language (SQL) was introduced by IBM in an IBM laboratory in San Jose, California in the late 1970s as the language to interface with its prototype relational database management system (RDBMS), System R / DB2. The language is often referred to as "sequel." SQL is a nonprocedural language, in contrast to the procedural or third-generation languages (3GLs) such as COBOL and C that had been created up to that time. Sets of records can be manipulated instead of one record at a time. The syntax is free-flowing, enabling you to concentrate on the data presentation.

The first commercially available SQL relational database management system was introduced in 1979 by Oracle Corporation. Today, SQL has become an industry standard database prgramming language, and Oracle Corporation clearly leads the world in relational database management system technology.

SQL is the de facto standard language used to manipulate and retrieve data from these relational databases. Database programmer and database administrator use it to perform the following tasks:
    

  • Query a database for information     
  • Update the contents of a database     
  • Modify a database's structure     
  • Add user permissions on databases or tables     
  • Change system security settings

    Unlike other popular languages like C, C++ and Java, I personally believe that the basics of SQL can be mastered in a relatively short period of time. By the end of this brief primer, a beginner should have a fairly good understanding of the basic syntax of SQL and be able to write basic SQL code to perform queries on a ralational database.