5 Introduction to SQL
The preceding chapter provides a quick introduction to MySQL. The focus there is on two topics: using MySQL’s rules and data types to define a database, and how to interact with the MySQL server. This chapter moves on to the lingua franca of databases: SQL.
SQL, short for Structured Query Language, is a group of special words used exclusively for interacting with databases. Every major database uses SQL, and MySQL is no exception. There are multiple versions of SQL and MySQL has its own variations on the SQL standards, but SQL is still surprisingly easy to learn and use. In fact, the hardest thing to do in SQL is use it to its full potential!
In this chapter you’ll learn all the SQL you need to know to create tables, ...
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