SQL syntax

Understanding SQL Syntax

SQL (Structured Query Language) is a powerful language used for interacting with databases. It follows a defined syntax - a set of rules and guidelines standardized by ISO and ANSI - to ensure consistent communication with the database system.

Key Points About SQL Syntax

Case Insensitivity
- SQL is not case-sensitive.
- Keywords like SELECT, FROM, and WHERE can be written in uppercase or lowercase.
- Writing SQL keywords in uppercase improves readability.
Line Independence
- SQL statements can be written across one or multiple lines.
- SQL does not care about line breaks but uses a semicolon ( ; ) to end a statement.
SQL Keywords and Statements
- SQL statements always begin with an SQL keyword such as SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, etc.
- Most actions on a database—such as querying, inserting, updating, or deleting—are performed using SQL statements.
Semicolon Usage
- A semicolon is used to end a SQL statement.
- It also separates multiple statements in a single execution block.

Common SQL Statement Example
SELECT column_name FROM table_name;

This statement tells the database to fetch the value from `column_name` in the table called `table_name`.

Each SQL statement begins with any of the SQL keywords and ends with the semicolon(;).
The semicolon is used for separating the multiple SQL statements which are going to execute in the same call.

Two-Minute Drill – SQL Syntax Recap

SQL syntax follows ISO and ANSI standards.

Keywords can be written in any case but uppercase is preferred for better readability.

Statements can be split across multiple lines.

Each statement ends with a semicolon.

Almost every action in a database is done using SQL statements.

SQL statements define what data to access and what operation to perform.