Which of the following is the original purpose of SQL

A. To define the data structures 
B. To specify the syntax and semantics of SQL data definition language
C. To specify the syntax and semantics of SQL manipulation language
D. All of the above which of the following is the original purpose of SQL?

The correct answer to this question “Which of the following is the original purpose of SQL” is option(D) all of the above.

Explanation:

SQL (structured Query Language) was created to work with relational databases. It was designed to help define the structure of the data and to manage the data. It helps you create, read, update, and delete. SQL allows you to define the structure of data(tables, columns) and control access to it.

Table of Contents:

• Original Purpose of SQL
  • To Define the data structures
  • Specify the syntax and semantics of SQL data definition language
  • To specify the syntax and semantics of SQL manipulation language
• Conclusion
• FAQs

Original Purpose of SQL

SQL serves various purposes. Let’s explore some of them.

1. To Define the data structures

SQL is used to define the structures of the database using “Data Definition Language(DDL)”. This includes some commands like:

• CREATE TABLE: It is used to define a table
• CREATE DATABASE: It is used to define a new database
• ALTER TABLE: It is used to modify an existing table
• DROP TABLE: It is used to delete a table
• TRUNCATE: It is used to remove all the rows from the table
• RENAME: It is used to rename the table or a column in an existing table

These commands help to organize and maintain the structure of the database effectively.

2. Specify the syntax and semantics of SQL data definition language

SQL’s Data Definition Language (DDL) is used for defining and managing database schema, 

including tables, constraints, indexes, etc. DDL focuses on the structure of the database rather than the data inside it. It helps you define how data is organized, stored, and related to each other.

For example, you can create a table with specific columns and data types, or change the design of an existing table.

3. To specify the syntax and semantics of SQL manipulation language

SQL also includes Data Manipulation Language (DML) which is used for querying, inserting, updating, and deleting data. This part of SQL allows users to manipulate the data within the defined structures. This includes some commands like:

• SELECT: It is used to retrieve the data from the table.
• INSERT: It is used to add the data from the table.
• UPDATE: It is used to modify the data from the table.
• DELETE: It is used to remove the data from the table.

SQL specifies both the syntax and the semantics for manipulating data.

Conclusion

After understanding various purposes of SQL, we can conclude that, SQL was designed for performing many tasks such as defining the data structures, specifying the syntax and semantics of the Data Definition Languages(DDL), and specifying the syntax and semantics of the Data Manipulation Language (DML).

Because of these capabilities, SQL is used by developers, analysts, and data scientists to interact, manage databases, defining the structure of data and allowing manipulation of data within those structures.

Therefore, option D (All of the above) is the most accurate answer.

Below are articles designed to introduce you to the basics of SQL and its core commands.-

SQL ORDER BY Clause Tutorial – The article on ‘SQL ORDER BY Clause Tutorial’ guides you on how to sort data in SQL queries for clearer output.

SQL GROUP BY Clause Tutorial – In the ‘SQL GROUP BY Clause Tutorial’, you’ll learn how to group data effectively for aggregation and analysis.

How to Delete NULL Values in SQL – This article on ‘How to Delete NULL Values in SQL’ explains methods to remove unwanted NULL entries from your tables.

Convert NVARCHAR Column to INT in SQL – The guide titled ‘Convert NVARCHAR Column to INT in SQL’ walks through the process of converting string data to integers safely.

Display Constraint Names in Oracle SQL – Learn how to display constraint names in Oracle databases with the help of this ‘Display Constraint Names in Oracle SQL’ article.

Find Tables Containing Specific Column – The article on ‘Find Tables Containing Specific Column’ shows you how to search for particular columns across your database tables.

Invalid SQL Type – In ‘Invalid SQL Type’, the article breaks down common data type errors and offers tips for fixing them.

SQL Privileges – The ‘SQL Privileges’ article details how to assign and manage user permissions for database security.

Download SQL Server 2012 – Follow the step-by-step instructions in ‘Download SQL Server 2012’ to install the software on your system.

FAQs