SQL

2 synonyms for SQL, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A language for asking questions of a database and changing what is stored in it — selecting records that meet certain conditions, adding rows, updating values and deleting them.

Synonyms

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

structured query language query language

How to use SQL

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

SQL query write SQL raw SQL SQL database SQL injection

Both pronunciations are standard and neither is wrong; the article follows whichever the speaker uses ("an SQL query" or "a SQL query"). Keywords are conventionally written in capitals.

Etymology

An initialism of structured query language. It grew out of an earlier IBM language called SEQUEL, which is why the pronunciation "see-kwuhl" persists alongside the spelled-out form.

Full origin of SQL →

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between SQL and MySQL?

SQL is the query language itself, a standard that many products implement. MySQL is one specific database system that you write SQL against. The same is true of PostgreSQL, SQL Server and others.

What is the difference between SQL and NoSQL?

SQL databases store data in tables of rows and columns with a defined structure, and are queried with SQL. NoSQL is an umbrella term for databases organised differently — as documents, key-value pairs, graphs or wide columns — usually with more flexible structure and their own query methods.

What is SQL injection?

It is an attack where text a user types is treated as part of a database command rather than as plain data, letting an attacker read or alter records they should not reach. It is prevented by passing user input as parameters rather than pasting it into the query text.

Nearby words

← Back to the full definition of SQL