Introduction to SQL Database
SQL database definition
SQL databases, also known as relational databases, are systems that store collections of tables and organize structured sets of data in a tabular columns-and-rows format, similar to that of a spreadsheet.
The databases are built using structured query language (SQL), the query language that not only makes up all relational databases and relational database management systems (RDBMS), but also enables them to “talk to each other”.
Why do SQL Databases exist?
The history of database technology / relational databases
SQL was invented as a language in the early 1970s, which means SQL databases have been around for as long as the Internet itself. Dubbed the structured English query language (SEQUEL), SQL was originally created to streamline access to relational database systems and to assist with the processing of information. Today, SQL remains one of the most popular and widely used query languages in open-source database technology due to its flexibility, ease of use, and seamless integration with a variety of different programming languages. You’ll find SQL being used throughout all types of high-performing, data-centric applications.
What’s the difference between SQL and NoSQL databases?
SQL databases organize data in columns and rows. The rows contain data sets that apply to each item, while the columns define the different properties of those items, such as product ID, name, quantity, and unit price. In contrast, NoSQL databases store all incoming data in a single document with no overt structure. This makes SQL databases conducive to storing structured forms of data while NoSQL databases are equipped to handle large volumes of structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data from non-traditional sources.