Surprises in SQL – State-of-the-art options in the standard query language
New Voice
© Lead Image © Olly, fotolia.com
In recent times, many developers have come to view SQL as inflexible and limited, but this classical database language has some tricks and special features that many users don't know about.
State-of-the-art SQL can do much more than you might think. Despite its popular image as a fairly limited database tool, SQL is no longer restricted to the relational data model but can also handle nested objects and structured documents, features more commonly associated with later technologies like NoSQL. Of course, it all depends on what you call SQL. Not all vendors implement all the features of the various SQL standards that have appeared through the years. In this article, I take you on a tour of some of interesting tricks available through standards-based SQL.
92 and 99
The SQL:92 standard is the starting point for the complete, classical SQL database system we think of today. SQL:92 was already the second major version of the SQL standard, and it achieved a certain level of completeness as an embodiment of the classic relational model. However, developers knew even back in 1992 that the relational model is not ideal for all data.
The third major version of the SQL standard in 1999 brought an end to the plain vanilla relational SQL. All signs pointed to object-oriented programming. The standard featured the concept of the object-relational database, but a couple of years too late as it turned out. Object-relational mappers (ORMs) had already begun to build a bridge between object-oriented programming and the relational data model.
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
US / Canada
UK / Australia
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
Fedora 43 Has Finally Landed
The Fedora Linux developers have announced their latest release, Fedora 43.
-
KDE Unleashes Plasma 6.5
The Plasma 6.5 desktop environment is now available with new features, improvements, and the usual bug fixes.
-
Xubuntu Site Possibly Hacked
It appears that the Xubuntu site was hacked and briefly served up a malicious ZIP file from its download page.
-
LMDE 7 Now Available
Linux Mint Debian Edition, version 7, has been officially released and is based on upstream Debian.
-
Linux Kernel 6.16 Reaches EOL
Linux kernel 6.16 has reached its end of life, which means you'll need to upgrade to the next stable release, Linux kernel 6.17.
-
Amazon Ditches Android for a Linux-Based OS
Amazon has migrated from Android to the Linux-based Vega OS for its Fire TV.
-
Cairo Dock 3.6 Now Available for More Compositors
If you're a fan of third-party desktop docks, then the latest release of Cairo Dock with Wayland support is for you.
-
System76 Unleashes Pop!_OS 24.04 Beta
System76's first beta of Pop!_OS 24.04 is an impressive feat.
-
Linux Kernel 6.17 is Available
Linus Torvalds has announced that the latest kernel has been released with plenty of core improvements and even more hardware support.
-
Kali Linux 2025.3 Released with New Hacking Tools
If you're a Kali Linux fan, you'll be glad to know that the third release of this famous pen-testing distribution is now available with updates for key components.