B5 - SQL (What is is and why important?)

Talking about databases, SQL is the standard language for relational database management. SQL stands for Structured Query Language and it is the standard language used to communicate with a database according to ANSI (American National Standards Institute). The language is based on statements that are used to perform tasks, among which the most common is updating data, or retrieve data from the database. The most common databases that use SQL are: Oracle, Sybase, Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Access, among others. Among all these databases, it is common to see specific commands and proprietary extensions;  the standards of SQL commands such as “Select”, “Insert”, “Update”, “Delete”, “Create” and “Drop” can be used to accomplish almost anything that it is needed to do on big databases across any SQL platform. Allowing this language to also allow the program to communicate between each other.

               SQL is important because it is high on demand due to the advancements of technology which make Big Data common. Traditional spreadsheet can be used to manage small-medium sized sets of information; however, this tool is not useful when big data is being managed. SQL comes in to play an important role to be able to manage records of 1 million datapoints or more. This allows you to perform any data related activity with millions of rows of data at high speed and an efficient way. As a result, across all the fields SQL has come to be in high demand. Currently, companies across all the fields are searching for individuals who are skilled in SQL making this language the most required for job positions nowadays.

               SQL is an excellent and essential tool for programmers, however due to the  advancements in technology this language has been coming across other people making it important for everybody to not only understand it but also be able to use it. Almost any business has come digitized which means that data is stored in enormous databases and to be able to manage them you need SQL and as companies strive to accomplish more with their information, they will require more people to be skilled to access and analyze this big data.

Comments on others post

Alec Silverstone

I do understand your point on how we use databases everyday in our lives. Therefore, it is clear your point of how data is created during design and construction process. I think that the use a database is important to be able to utilize that data in an intelligent manner. The proper use of this data not only facilitates the work but also decrease the errors in communication between contractors, engineers and architects.

Weiyi Tang

Your example on the systems used for energy control is precise. Being an electrical engineer, I have seen how this controls work on the field and through the years the biggest goal for controls in building has been to decrease the energy consumption. Before the approach was to decrease the use of each element by separate. But since the boom of the big data analysis, buildings have come to use central databases to understand the behavior of the building and only use energy when and where is needed.

Jenny Fretta

I have been using object-oriented databases before and I agree with you. I believe that the data is connected in a more intuitive way and it allows people to understand better why the information is stored that way. I like your example of object-oriented database, it is really clear to understand how it will properly work.

Citation

• ·        “What Is Structured Query Language (SQL)? - Definition from Techopedia.” Techopedia.com, www.techopedia.com/definition/1245/structured-query-language-sql.
  
• ·        Heller, Martin. “What Is SQL? Structured Query Language Explained.” InfoWorld, InfoWorld, 28 Aug. 2017, www.infoworld.com/article/3219795/sql/what-is-sql-structured-query-language-explained.html.
  
• ·        SQLCourse. “What Is SQL?” SQLCourse - Lesson 1: What Is SQL?, 20 Aug. 2000, www.sqlcourse.com/intro.html.
  
• ·        Babu, Amarendra. “Structured Query Language - Importance of Learning SQL.” {Coding}Sight, 6 Nov. 2018, codingsight.com/structured-query-language-importance-of-learning-sql/.