MySQL, 5th Edition

2. Using SQL to Manage Data

The MySQL server understands Structured Query Language (SQL). Therefore, SQL is the means by which you tell the server how to perform data management operations, and fluency with it is necessary for effective communication. When you use a program such as the mysql client, it functions primarily as a way for you to send SQL statements to the server to be executed. If you write programs in a language that has a MySQL interface, such as the Perl DBI module or PHP PDO extension, these interfaces enable you to communicate with the server by issuing SQL statements.

Chapter 1, “Getting Started with MySQL,” presented a tutorial introducing many of MySQL’s capabilities, including some basic use of SQL. We’ll build on that material ...