Query language with standardized syntax (Standard) common to most DBMS software operating relational databases. SQL statements are written in a similar way to English.

Syntax examples: Alter table table1 by adding a column named column5 with integers

ALTER TABLE table1 ADD COLUMN colonne5 INTEGER NULL;

Select in the table employee name and employee service with the trainee status and in resulting table order the names alphabetically:

SELECT nom, service 
FROM   employe 
W_HERE statut = 'stagiaire' 
ORDER  BY nom;