Over the past few years, data growth and storage have surged disproportionately, fueled by the rise in mobile technologies and new market trends such as social media, Fintech, and Artificial Intelligence (AI). However, thanks to the properties of the SQL language, these data can be queried and modified quickly and efficiently to transform them into valuable information for organizations.

SQL (Structured Query Language) emerged in the 1970s in IBM’s laboratories. The idea was to develop a language to manage and retrieve data in relational database systems, based on the relational model proposed by Edgar F. Codd. SQL was designed to be easy to understand and use, with a syntax similar to natural language, enabling users to perform complex queries efficiently. This pioneering development led SQL to become the standard for managing relational databases, retaining its relevance to this day. 

The Five Pillars That Make SQL Stand Out 

• Simplicity and Familiarity: SQL is easy to learn and use, featuring a clear syntax widely recognized in the industry. 

• Query Efficiency: It enables complex and efficient queries on large volumes of data. 

• Compatibility and Standards: It is compatible with most relational databases and follows ANSI (American National Standards Institute) standards. 

• Security and Access Control: It offers robust features for access control and permission management. 

• Flexibility and Scalability: It supports a variety of data operations and adapts well to expanding infrastructures, including cloud-based solutions. 

The image below demonstrates, in a practical and straightforward way, SQL syntax—highlighting the reserved keywords for queries, filters, operations, and joins or intersections of data between multiple tables. 

Source: https://learnsql.com/blog/sql-basics-cheat-sheet/ 

Even after five decades since its creation, SQL continues to be a pioneer in the industry for querying and managing relational data. 

In the 2023 Stack Overflow Developer Survey involving 67,000 developers, the importance of SQL was evident: it ranked third, at 51.5%, among the most relevant languages in the tech sector for professional developers. 

Source: https://survey.stackoverflow.co/2023/#most-popular-technologies-language-prof

The combination of SQL and artificial intelligence is opening new possibilities for data analysis. This integration allows organizations to leverage their existing relational databases while incorporating advanced AI (Artificial Intelligence) and ML (Machine Learning) techniques to gain deeper, more actionable insights. As these technologies continue to evolve, companies that adopt an integrated approach to SQL and AI will be better positioned to compete in an increasingly data-driven environment. 

If you would like to learn more about this language, we invite you to take the Fundamentals of SQL course at IzyAcademy, where you can acquire all the basic knowledge to begin your journey into the world of data. 

https://izyacademy.com/producto/fundamentos-de-sql/

Author: Michael Andres Téllez Moreno,Data engineer