What does SQL stand for?
| Full form | Structured Query Language |
|---|---|
| Category | Technology & computing |
| Type | Abbreviation |
The abbreviation SQL stands for Structured Query Language. It is a language for working with data in relational databases.
This guide covers the database language. SQL is not the name of one database product. Different database systems support their own features and dialects, so a query that works in one system may need changes in another.
Meaning in context
- Structured
- The language expresses operations through statements with a defined syntax.
- Query
- A SELECT statement can retrieve specified columns and rows. SQL also supports operations beyond reading data.
- Language
- SQL is the language; a database system such as PostgreSQL implements it. The product and the language are different things.
Practical examples
Name the language and system
- Before
Our database is SQL.
- After
Our application uses PostgreSQL and queries its data with SQL.
The revision separates a database system from the language used with it. This is an illustrative setup, not a claim about a particular company.
Specify columns
- Before
SELECT * FROM products;
- After
SELECT name, price FROM products;
The first query requests all columns; the second names two. These examples assume a products table with name and price columns. Neither query specifies row order.
Restrict the result
- Before
Get the product names with SQL.
- After
SELECT name FROM products WHERE price < 20;
This illustrative query expresses which column to return and which rows to include. Its meaning depends on the declared price type and units in the database.
Original illustrative examples, not quotations or reports of actual events.
Put SQL into practice
How do I describe or write a simple SQL query without confusing it with the database?
See all guidance
Name the language and system
Name the database product separately from SQL.
Our application uses PostgreSQL and queries its data with SQL.
Specify columns
List the columns you need and check that they exist in the chosen table.
SELECT name, price FROM products;
Restrict the result
State the selection condition and check the meaning of values in your own schema.
SELECT name FROM products WHERE price < 20;
These are illustrative examples. The tool prepares text in your browser; it does not connect to a service or execute code.
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By AcronymIndex Editorial Team · Editorial policy