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Difference between MySQL and SQL

Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2003 3:09 am
by WOLE99
[Admin Edit: Changed text from being all uppercase 'cause I don't like shouting]

Please what is the difference between MySQL and SQL. Which one is more harder to learn?

Posted: Fri Jul 04, 2003 3:36 am
by []InTeR[]
Please, do not use CAPS....

SQL = Structured Query Language. (Default database language)
MySQL = A Database Server Software compabible with SQL

Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2003 1:10 am
by fractalvibes
Yes, MySQL is one of many DBMS - Data Base Management Systems, as are:
Access
Db2
Oracle
Informix
msql
PostGre
to name just a few.

SQL is the language you use to communicate with the database, and there are standards for the language. All DBMS vendors try and come close to these standards....

As with things such as HTML, javascript, XML, etc. each does try and add in some proprieraty extentions/enhancements to the language.......so, depending upon what you are trying to do there might be some slight differences in dialect....

Phil J.

Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2003 1:50 am
by Stoker
Actually, just to be very picky, SQL does not mean Structured Query Language according to the ANSI standard. Quotes from the book SQL by Chris Fehily (ISBN 0-321-11803-0):

"Its a common misconception that SQL stands for structured query language, it stands for S-Q-L and nothing else. Why? Because ANSI says so" and he mentions that the official name is "Database Language - SQL". He lists several reasons why Structured query Language is the worst possible description, one of them being that it is not at all structured... Another interresting thing mentioned in this book is that he believes SQL should bever be prounounced "Sequel", I know many old-timers that call it that and I havent made any effort to correct thos that have 10-15 years more DBA'ing experience than me :P