SQL-92

SQL-92 was designed to be a standard for relational database management systems (RDBMSs). It is based SQL-89, which in turn was based on SQL-86. SQL-92 was developed by the ANSI (then NCITS, and now INCITS) X3H2 committee, which originally began work on a SQL standard in 1982. 

SQL-92 does not address objects in any way. Nevertheless, SQL-92 forms the basis for JDBC, SQLJ, SQL:1999, and ODMG OQL. Each of these specifications are covered in other parts of this section. See the menu selections at the right below.

SQL is a database sublanguage that is used for accessing relational databases. The letters don't stand for anything¹. A database sublanguage is one that is used in association with some other language for the purpose of accessing a database. This results in a programming style illustrated by the embedded SQL statements in the following diagram.

An example of an embedded SQL statement that creates a new Person instance would be:

EXEC SQL BEGIN DECLARE SECTION;
    char SQLSTATE[6];
    char ssan[9];
    char name[30];
EXEC SQL END DECLARE SECTION

EXEC SQL
INSERT INTO person VALUES (:ssan, :name);

This code would be in addition to any host programming code. The variables :ssan and :name would need to be set by the host program using the host programming language before execution. If you also wanted to manipulate this new Person instance in the host program, you would need programming code in addition to this code fragment that populates the instance in the programming language along with the instance in the database. 

Also see the NCITS H2 web site (new window).

¹ According to Jim Melton, the editor of the SQL standard, the proper pronunciation is "ess cue ell," and not "sequel" as is commonly heard. Jim also says that SQL stands for "SQL Query Language" and notes that this is a recursive acronym. In some early prototypes, SQL stood for "Structured Query Language." That is not true for the standard.

Web Services and Service-Oriented Architectures Online articles > Consulting Mentoring Speaking Suggested programs Stencils for the Savvy Manager's Guide Links Mail list Privacy policy Sitemap Contact

Web Services articles XML standards and vocabularies Application server articles Database concepts and standards > Object database articles Relational database articles Object-relational mapping articles XML database articles XML middleware articles Article Sponsorship Reprint policy

Basic concepts for using a DBMS Database models DBMS standards > Article suggestions

SQL-92 > JDBC SQLJ SQL:1999 ADO.NET Java Data Objects (JDO) ODMG 3.0 Detailed comparison of ODMG 3.0 and JDO Summary comparison of DBMS standards

Related books at Amazon.com

Understanding Relational Databases with Examples in SQL-92 by Fabian Pascal Average Customer Review: based on 7 reviews. Customer Review: Terse and authoritative, but engaging. This book's style may not be for everyone but its content is well worth the effort of study and review. It's short for a book on relational theory, which derives from the author's economy of exposition rather than from a lack of depth or coverage. In reading it I was repeatedly struck with the s...

More related books: Search Amazon.com for "SQL-92"

Copyright © 2000-2008 Barry & Associates, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
You can use this material for your work or classes. Click here for our reprint policy.
www.service-architecture.com