Every time you log in to a website, make an online purchase on Amazon, search for a flight or check your bank balance, something happens that we almost never see: the system will look for specific information and return it to you in a matter of seconds. Behind all this is a very structured way of saving, sorting and querying data.
Taking into account the amount of digital data that exists such as names, emails, passwords, orders, invoices, messages, videos or addresses, the truth is that all of this needs to be stored in an orderly manner so that the apps work without problems.
And to keep this enormous and crazy amount of information under control, there is a tool that has been absolutely essential for decades.
That tool is not an application, it is a programming language. A language that allows communication between humans and databases. Is called SQLand although very few know of its existence or what it does, it is present in almost all the services you use every day.
- What is SQL?
- How SQL organizes information behind the screen
- It’s not just for programmers, it’s everywhere
What is SQL?
Simply put, SQL means Structured Query Languageo structured query language. But there is no need to memorize the definition: just think of SQL as a language used to give orders to databases.
To put it a little more into context, a database is simply a place where information is stored. It can contain names, emails, passwords, orders, messages… everything a system needs to function. SQL allows us to ask that database exactly what we want to know, or tell it to save something new, modify it or delete it.
For example, when you log into your account at an online store like Zara, the system needs to verify your password and display your recent orders. All of this is done with SQL. The database does not understand human words; He needs you to tell him things precisely. SQL is that clear and direct way of talk with the data.
To understand it better, imagine that you have a huge library full of hundreds of books and you want to find a specific one or those written by a specific author. Without an organized system, it would be impossible. SQL works to know exactly where each book is and brings it to you instantly.
The truth is that, despite its age, it is still as valid as the first day. The reason is simple: data remains the heart of any system. It doesn’t matter if we are talking about a social network, a messaging app or a streaming platform. They all need to store and consult information reliably.
Also add that SQL should not be confused with languages such as Python, Java or JavaScript. SQL It is not useful for creating programsbut to work with data.
Typically, an application uses another language for logic and interface, and SQL to talk to the database. They both work together.
How SQL organizes information behind the screen
This could be imagined as a giant spreadsheet. It has rows and columns, and each row represents a record, while each column defines a type of data: name, email, address, telephone…
SQL allows you to work with these tables very quickly. For example, if a website needs to show only users who live in Madrid, SQL selects that information instantly, without having to look record by record.
Furthermore, it is not only used to search for information. It also allows you to add new data, update it or delete it.
Regarding its operation, technically speaking, it works through instructionsalso called queries. They are phrases written in a structured way that indicate exactly what you want to do.
One of the best known is SELECTwhich is used to select data. Another very used one is INSERTwhich is used to add new information. They are also UPDATE to modify data and DELETE to delete them.
As you see, It is quite readable, even for those who do not program. It does not use strange symbols or complicated structures. It is intended to be clear and direct.
For example, an SQL query can be read almost like an English sentence: select certain data from a table where a specific condition is met.
It’s not just for programmers, it’s everywhere
As mentioned before, every time you open a social network like X, check your email in Gmail, search for an online product on Amazon or check your banking history, you are interacting with databases. And those databases they speak SQL to deliver information at the right time.
For example, when you filter products by price in a store, there is no human reviewing the items one by one. SQL does the work: select only those that meet your criteria and display them in seconds. When you receive series or music recommendations, it is also SQL that cross-references your tastes with those of other users to offer you personalized options.
Even if you don’t write a single line of code, you use SQL every day and it’s absolutely everywhere.