SQL Series...4

SQL Commands

The SQL command language consists of a limited number of commands that specifically relate to data handling. Some of these commands perform data-definition functions; some perform data-manipulation functions; and others perform data-control functions. 

To comply with SQL:2003, an implementation must include all the core fea-tures. It may also include extensions to the core set (which the SQL:2003 specification also describes). But back to basics. Table lists the core SQL:2003 commands.

ALTER DOMAIN	DECLARE CURSOR	FREE LOCATOR
ALTER TABLE	DECLARE TABLE	GET DIAGNOSTICS
CALL	DELETE	GRANT
CLOSE	DISCONNECT	HOLD LOCATOR
COMMIT	DROP ASSERTION	INSERT
CONNECT	DROP CHARACTER SET	OPEN
CREATE ASSERTION	DROP COLLATION	RELEASE
		SAVEPOINT
CREATE CHARACTER SET	DROP DOMAIN	RETURN
CREATE COLLATION	DROP ORDERING	REVOKE
CREATE DOMAIN	DROP ROLE	ROLLBACK
CREATE FUNCTION	DROP SCHEMA	SAVEPOINT
CREATE METHOD	DROP SPECIFIC	SELECT
	FUNCTION
CREATE ORDERING	DROP SPECIFIC	SET CONNECTION
	PROCEDURE

	CREATE PROCEDURE	DROP SPECIFIC		SET CONSTRAINTS
		ROUTINE
	CREATE ROLE	DROP TABLE		SET ROLE
	CREATE SCHEMA	DROP TRANSFORM		SET SESSION
				AUTHORIZATION
	CREATE TABLE	DROP TRANSLATION		SET SESSION
				CHARACTERISTICS
	CREATE TRANSFORM	DROP TRIGGER		SET TIME ZONE
	CREATE TRANSLATION	DROP TYPE		SET TRANSACTION
	CREATE TRIGGER	DROP VIEW		START
				TRANSACTION
	CREATE TYPE	FETCH		UPDATE
	CREATE VIEW

 If you’re among those programmers who love to try out new capabilities, rejoice.

Reserved Words

In addition to the commands, a number of other words have a special signifi-cance within SQL. These words, along with the commands, are reserved for specific uses, so you can’t use them as variable names or in any other way that differs from their intended use. You can easily see why tables, columns, and variables should not be given names that appear on the reserved word list. Imagine the confusion that a statement such as the following would cause: