Java™ How To Program (Early Objects), Tenth Edition

Structured Query Language

Today’s most popular database systems are relational databases (Section 24.2). A language called SQL—pronounced “sequel,” or as its individual letters—is the international standard language used almost universally with relational databases to perform queries (i.e., to request information that satisfies given criteria) and to manipulate data. [Note: As you learn about SQL, you’ll see some authors writing “a SQL statement” (which assumes the pronunciation “sequel”) and others writing “an SQL statement” (which assumes that the individual letters are pronounced). In this book we pronounce SQL as “sequel.”]