SQL Commands: DDL, DML, DQL, DCL, TCL

Data Definition Language (DDL)

Data Definition Language (DDL) commands are used for defining the database structure or schema.

Let's look at some DDL commands with a simple example for each command.

i. CREATE

In SQL, the CREATE command is used to create a new table in the database. For example,

CREATE TABLE Products (
    product_id INT,
    name VARCHAR(100),
    price DECIMAL
);

Here, the SQL command creates a new table named Products with three columns: product_id (integer type), name (string type up to 100 characters), and price (decimal type for storing prices).

ii. ALTER TABLE

In SQL, the ALTER TABLE command is used to modify the structure of an existing table like adding, deleting, renaming columns, etc.

Let's look at an example.

-- add email column to Customers table
ALTER TABLE Customers
ADD email VARCHAR(100);

Here, the SQL command adds a column named email to the Customers table.

iii. DROP TABLE

In SQL, the DROP TABLE command is used to delete the specified table in our database. For example,

-- delete Orders table
DROP TABLE Orders;

Here, the SQL command will delete the table named Orders.

Data Manipulation Language (DML)

DML (Data Manipulation Language) are SQL commands focused on handling data within the database, including most SQL statements.

Let's look at some DML commands with a simple example for each command.

i. INSERT INTO

In SQL, the INSERT INTO statement is used to insert new rows into a database table. For example,

-- insert a row in the Customers table
INSERT INTO Customers (customer_id, first_name, last_name, age, country)
VALUES (6, 'Alice', 'Brown', 30, 'Canada');

Here, the SQL command inserts a new row into the Customers table with the given values.

ii. UPDATE

The SQL UPDATE statement is used to edit an existing row in a database table.

Let's look at an example.

-- update a single value in the given row
UPDATE Customers
SET age = 29
WHERE customer_id = 5;

This command updates the age field of the customer with customer_id 5 to 29.

iii. DELETE

The SQL DELETE statement is used to delete row(s) from a database table. For example,

DELETE FROM Customers
WHERE country = 'UAE';

Here, the SQL command deletes all rows from the Customers table where the country is UAE.

Data Query Language (DQL)

DQL is used for querying and retrieving data from a database. It allows us to specify the exact data we want to see from one or more tables based on given conditions.

SELECT

In SQL, the SELECT statement is used to select (retrieve) data from a database table. For example,

SELECT * FROM Customers
WHERE country = 'UK';

Here, the SQL command retrieves all rows from the Customers table where the country is UK.

Data Control Language (DCL)

DCL commands include GRANT and REVOKE, which are used to control access to the database.

i. GRANT

In SQL, the GRANT statement gives users access privileges to the database. For example,

GRANT SELECT, UPDATE ON Customers TO user1;

This command grants SELECT and UPDATE permissions on the Customers table to user1.

ii. REVOKE

In SQL, the REVOKE statement withdraws access privileges given by the GRANT statement.

Let's look at an example.

REVOKE SELECT ON Customers FROM user1;

Here, the SQL query revokes SELECT permission on the Customers table from user1.

Transaction Control Language (TCL)

In SQL, TCL commands manage changes affecting the database.

i. COMMIT

In SQL, the COMMIT command is used for saving the changes made in the database. For example,

UPDATE Customers
SET country = 'UK'
WHERE customer_id = 4;
COMMIT;

Here, the SQL command updates the country of the customer with customer_id 4 and commits the transaction.

ii. ROLLBACK

In SQL, ROLLBACK is used to undo the transactions that have not been saved in the database. For example,

DELETE FROM Orders;
ROLLBACK;

Here, the query deletes all records from the Orders table but then rolls back the transaction.