Hi,
What does the "Structured" word means in SQL?
Is it because this(SQL) language statements are organized into Clauses, expressions and predicates?
Because of this organization, is it called "Structured" ?
Kind Regards, Pavan.
+1
A:
from: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Why_sql_is_called_structured_query_language
SQL, the standard that was later developed from Codd's work, provides a means of describing data with its natural structure only - that is, without superimposing any additional structure for machine representation purposes.
Tim Mahy
2010-05-30 14:04:51
+6
A:
The original full name was SEQUEL, which stood for "Structured English Query Language". It later had to be renamed to SQL due to trademark issues.
So basically, it was yet another attempt to sell a programming language as "just like English, except with a formal syntax" (hence "structured").
Michael Borgwardt
2010-05-30 14:05:58
Interesting "However, there is also a large class of users who, while they are not computer specialists, would be willing to learn to interact with a computer in a reasonably high-level, non-procedural querylanguage. Examples of such users are accountants, engineers, architects, and urban planners. It is for this class of users that SEQUEL is intended."
Andomar
2010-05-30 14:28:37
It is highly questionable whether this has had the intended effect! The non-compsci-written queries I've met have generally tended towards the barely-manageable kind of procedural-mindset mess where a series of heavy correlated subqueries are used instead of basic joins.
bobince
2010-05-30 15:03:15
@Andomar, @bobince: Enabling non-programmers to program via a "intuitive" or "natural" language or interface is a pipe dream that gets re-invented every couple of years.
Michael Borgwardt
2010-05-30 15:21:53
@Michael: So true. Microsoft English Query was launched with fanfare with SQL Server 2000 but dropped in SQL 2005.
Anthony Faull
2010-05-30 16:44:34
+3
A:
As I understand it, SQL is actually an abbreviation of SEQUEL, or Structured English Query Language. It was meant to have queries that everyone could read. The structured part means that you can only use a structured English; i.e. select col1 from table1, but not give col1 out of table1.
Andomar
2010-05-30 14:07:29