sql

from The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)
SQL
Structured Query Language

   <language, database, standard> /S Q L/ An industry-standard
   language for creating, updating and, querying {relational
   database management systems}.

   SQL was developed by {IBM} in the 1970s for use in {System R}.
   It is the {de facto standard} as well as being an {ISO} and
   {ANSI} {standard}.  It is often embedded in general purpose
   programming languages.

   The first SQL standard, in 1986, provided basic language
   constructs for defining and manipulating {tables} of data; a
   revision in 1989 added language extensions for {referential
   integrity} and generalised {integrity} {constraints}.  Another
   revision in 1992 provided facilities for {schema} manipulation
   and {data administration}, as well as substantial enhancements
   for data definition and data manipulation.

   Development is currently underway to enhance SQL into a
   computationally complete language for the definition and
   management of {persistent}, complex objects.  This includes:
   generalisation and specialisation hierarchies, {multiple
   inheritance}, user defined {data types}, {triggers} and
   {assertions}, support for {knowledge based systems},
   {recursive query expressions}, and additional data
   administration tools.  It also includes the specification of
   {abstract data types} (ADTs), object identifiers, {methods},
   {inheritance}, {polymorphism}, {encapsulation}, and all of the
   other facilities normally associated with object data
   management.

   The emerging {SQL3} standard is expected to be complete in
   1998.

   According to Allen G. Taylor, SQL does __not__ stand for
   "Structured Query Language".  That, like "SEQUEL" (and its
   pronunciation /see'kw*l/), was just another unofficial name
   for a precursor of SQL.  However, the IBM SQL Reference manual
   for DB2 and Craig Mullins's "DB2 Developer's Guide" say SQL
   __does__ stand for "Structured Query Language".

   SQL Standards (http://jcc.com/sql_stnd.html).

   An SQL parser
   (ftp://ftp.ora.com/published/oreilly/nutshell/lexyacc/) is
   described in "Lex & Yacc", by Levine, Mason & Brown published
   by O'Reilly.

   The 1995 SQL Reunion: People, Projects, and Politics
   (http://mcjones.org/System_R/SQL_Reunion_95/).

   ["A Guide to the SQL Standard", C.J. Date, A-W 1987].

   ["SQL for Dummies", Allen G. Taylor, IDG Books Worldwide].

   (2005-11-17)