What is SQL?

SQL stands for Structured Query Language the language used to store, retrieve, update, and delete data in databases.

Most businesses store data in relational databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL, Microsoft SQL Server), which organise data into tables with rows and columns. SQL is how you talk to those tables.

The four core operations:

• SELECT — retrieve data
• INSERT — add new data
• UPDATE — change existing data
• DELETE — remove data

A simple example:

SELECT name, email FROM customers WHERE city = 'London';

This says: "From the customers table, give me the name and email of everyone in London."

SQL is not a general programming language it is specifically for querying databases.