SQL Database, Basic Functions of SQL

There are two main sublanguages that fall under the category of SQL, used in databases such as Oracle. The Data Definition Language, or DDL, is one of these, which is used to create new databases or objects within those databases. If you have a SQL database that uses DDL, then you can use different Data Manipulation Language, or DML commands to insert, modify, or pull out any data contained within the main structure. While both are considered part of SQL language, they are used for different purposes.

With four basic commands that are used in the DDL portion of an SQL database, you can work on creating and destroying databases and objects contained within the database. This includes the "create" command, which allows you to set up a new database with various independent objects inside of it. This could include everything from a list of customer contacts to an inventory database. Another command that you can put in is the "use" command, which allows you to state which database you want to work with within the larger framework of your system.

To modify any items that are included within the SQL database, you can then use the "alter" command. You can change the actual structure of the database as well, without the need to destroy it and start over completely, saving a great deal of time and effort. Finally, the "drop" command is the way to remove database objects, without deleting the structure itself. However, these are but a few examples of the typical commands and functions that make up SQL code. Because most businesses can benefit from the use of computerized databases, it's helpful to learn more about how this works with a simple tutorial, so that you can better organize your department.