- SQL
Full form: Structured Query Language
What it is:
- A language/standard used to interact with relational databases.
- Defines how to create, read, update, and delete data (CRUD).
- It's like the grammar or syntax rules for talking to any relational database.
Scope:
Not tied to a single database — used by MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server, Oracle, etc.
Example:
SELECT name FROM employees WHERE salary > 50000;
This query works (with small variations) in almost all relational databases.
- MySQL
Full form: My Structured Query Language (though officially it’s just “MySQL”)
What it is:
- A database management system (DBMS) — specifically a relational DBMS.
- It uses SQL to interact with the data.
- Created by MySQL AB, now owned by Oracle Corporation.
Scope:
- Implements SQL (with MySQL-specific extensions).
- Includes tools for storage, security, backups, replication, etc.
Example:
When you install MySQL on your computer, you get a database engine that understands SQL commands and stores your data in MySQL's storage system.
In simple and easy words
"SQL is a language, MySQL is a database."
- SQL → A standard language to communicate with relational databases. Example:
SELECT * FROM users;
Works in MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server, etc.
- MySQL → A relational database management system (RDBMS) that uses SQL to store and manage data. Example: You install MySQL to store your website’s user data, then use SQL to query it.
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