SQL (Structured Query Language) was developed by IBM in 1975, beginning life by supporting IBM's mainframes and minicomputers.  It is now popular on PCs and is supported by all database systems designed for client/server environments.

SQL is now the most popular programming language that programmers use to send queries to databases i.e. requests for information.  As a full database query and programming language (compatible with both HTML and XML), SQL enables the access of data from a database; the building of a database and the adding, updating and deletion of data whilst performing more complicated tasks.  SQL commands either work interactively with a database or can be embedded within a programming language to interface to a database.  Other tasks SQL will allow are the changing of server configuration, modification of session settings and control data and access statements.

For more on other programming languages click on:

  JavaScript
  HTML
  XML