Structured Query Language (SQL)

What is Structured Query Language (SQL)?

SQL (Structured Query Language) is the standard programming language used to manage, query, and manipulate the data stored within relational databases.

A relational database stores data in related tables, where each table represents a different type of data and the tables are linked through defined relationships. SQL is used to insert, update, delete, and query the data held within them.

How does SQL work?

SQL is a declarative language, meaning you specify what you want the database to do, and the database management system works out how to do it. For example, you can use SQL to retrieve a specific set of records, or to insert new data into a table.

What are the main SQL statements?

SQL is made up of several types of statement, including:

• SELECT: Retrieve data from one or more tables.
• INSERT: Add new data to a table.
• UPDATE: Modify existing data in a table.
• DELETE: Remove data from a table.
• CREATE: Create new tables or other database objects.
• DROP: Delete existing tables or other database objects.
• ALTER: Modify the structure of existing tables or objects.

SQL is used by many relational database management systems, including MySQL, MariaDB, Oracle Database, Microsoft SQL Server, and PostgreSQL.

SQL and MIDAS

MIDAS uses SQL to store and retrieve all of your booking data when running against a MySQL or MariaDB database backend, ensuring your reservations, clients, and invoices are managed reliably and efficiently.