Which term best describes the language used to query data?

Which term best describes the language used to query data?

• A. Structured Query Language
• B. Unstructured Query Language
• C. Object Query Language
• D. Database Definition Language

Answer: (A)

Structured Query Language is the language designed to query and manipulate data stored in relational databases. It provides a clear, declarative way to specify what data you want, and the database engine figures out how to retrieve it. The most common operation is selecting data from one or more tables, but SQL also includes statements to insert, update, or delete data. Because relational databases organize data in structured tables with defined schemas, a dedicated language—SQL—was created to query that structured data efficiently and consistently. That widespread, standardized use across many database systems is what makes it the best answer. Other terms don’t fit as the standard for querying data. Unstructured Query Language isn’t a recognized term. Object Query Language exists for some object-oriented databases and isn’t the default choice for relational data. Database Definition Language refers to the aspects of SQL used to define or modify the database schema, not to querying data.

Structured Query Language is the language designed to query and manipulate data stored in relational databases. It provides a clear, declarative way to specify what data you want, and the database engine figures out how to retrieve it. The most common operation is selecting data from one or more tables, but SQL also includes statements to insert, update, or delete data. Because relational databases organize data in structured tables with defined schemas, a dedicated language—SQL—was created to query that structured data efficiently and consistently. That widespread, standardized use across many database systems is what makes it the best answer.

Other terms don’t fit as the standard for querying data. Unstructured Query Language isn’t a recognized term. Object Query Language exists for some object-oriented databases and isn’t the default choice for relational data. Database Definition Language refers to the aspects of SQL used to define or modify the database schema, not to querying data.