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
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
-
Linux Kernel 6.17 Drops bcachefs
After a clash over some late fixes and disagreements between bcachefs's lead developer and Linus Torvalds, bachefs is out.
-
ONLYOFFICE v9 Embraces AI
Like nearly all office suites on the market (except LibreOffice), ONLYOFFICE has decided to go the AI route.
-
Two Local Privilege Escalation Flaws Discovered in Linux
Qualys researchers have discovered two local privilege escalation vulnerabilities that allow hackers to gain root privileges on major Linux distributions.
-
New TUXEDO InfinityBook Pro Powered by AMD Ryzen AI 300
The TUXEDO InfinityBook Pro 14 Gen10 offers serious power that is ready for your business, development, or entertainment needs.
-
Danish Ministry of Digital Affairs Transitions to Linux
Another major organization has decided to kick Microsoft Windows and Office to the curb in favor of Linux.
-
Linux Mint 20 Reaches EOL
With Linux Mint 20 at its end of life, the time has arrived to upgrade to Linux Mint 22.
-
TuxCare Announces Support for AlmaLinux 9.2
Thanks to TuxCare, AlmaLinux 9.2 (and soon version 9.6) now enjoys years of ongoing patching and compliance.
-
Go-Based Botnet Attacking IoT Devices
Using an SSH credential brute-force attack, the Go-based PumaBot is exploiting IoT devices everywhere.
-
Plasma 6.5 Promises Better Memory Optimization
With the stable Plasma 6.4 on the horizon, KDE has a few new tricks up its sleeve for Plasma 6.5.
-
KaOS 2025.05 Officially Qt5 Free
If you're a fan of independent Linux distributions, the team behind KaOS is proud to announce the latest iteration that includes kernel 6.14 and KDE's Plasma 6.3.5.