Wiley Beginning SQL 978-0-7645-7732-1 Benutzerhandbuch
Produktcode
978-0-7645-7732-1
1
Introduction to SQL
A nice, gentle introductory chapter, this chapter begins by looking at databases in terms of what
they are and why and when you want to use them. Then the chapter turns to SQL and discovers
how it links in with databases and how it can be useful. After tackling the basics of SQL and how
it works in theory, you examine how to use it to create a database. This chapter also walks you
through creating the structure of the example database used throughout the book.
they are and why and when you want to use them. Then the chapter turns to SQL and discovers
how it links in with databases and how it can be useful. After tackling the basics of SQL and how
it works in theory, you examine how to use it to create a database. This chapter also walks you
through creating the structure of the example database used throughout the book.
By the end of the chapter, you should understand how a database enables you to efficiently orga-
nize and retrieve the information you want, as well as how to create a fully functional database, all
ready and waiting to accept add data. But before diving headlong into writing lines of SQL code,
it’s helpful to know a little bit of background about databases.
nize and retrieve the information you want, as well as how to create a fully functional database, all
ready and waiting to accept add data. But before diving headlong into writing lines of SQL code,
it’s helpful to know a little bit of background about databases.
A Brief Histor y of Databases
Modern databases emerged in the 1960s thanks to research at IBM, among other companies. The
research mainly centered around office automation, in particular automating data storage and
indexing tasks that previously required a great deal of manual labor. Computing power and stor-
age had become much cheaper, making the use of computers for data indexing and storage a
viable solution. A pioneer in the database field was Charles W. Bachman, who received the Turing
Award in 1973 for pioneering work in database technology. In 1970, an IBM researcher named
Ted Codd published the first article on relational databases.
research mainly centered around office automation, in particular automating data storage and
indexing tasks that previously required a great deal of manual labor. Computing power and stor-
age had become much cheaper, making the use of computers for data indexing and storage a
viable solution. A pioneer in the database field was Charles W. Bachman, who received the Turing
Award in 1973 for pioneering work in database technology. In 1970, an IBM researcher named
Ted Codd published the first article on relational databases.
Although IBM was a leader in database research, Honeywell Information Systems, Inc., released
a commercial product in 1976 based on the same principles as the IBM information system, but
it was designed and implemented separately from IBM’s work.
a commercial product in 1976 based on the same principles as the IBM information system, but
it was designed and implemented separately from IBM’s work.
In the early 1980s, the first database systems built upon the SQL standard appeared from compa-
nies such as Oracle, with Oracle Version 2, and later SQL/DS from IBM, as well as a host of other
systems from other companies.
nies such as Oracle, with Oracle Version 2, and later SQL/DS from IBM, as well as a host of other
systems from other companies.
Now that you have a brief idea of where databases came from, you can turn to the more practical
task of what databases are and why and when to use them.
task of what databases are and why and when to use them.
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