Here's why SQL is the dominant language:
* Standardized: SQL is an ANSI (American National Standards Institute) and ISO (International Organization for Standardization) standard, ensuring compatibility across different database systems.
* Powerful and versatile: SQL offers a comprehensive set of commands for retrieving, inserting, updating, deleting, and managing data. It supports complex queries, joins, aggregations, and subqueries.
* Industry-standard: Almost every relational database management system (RDBMS) supports SQL, making it a fundamental skill for database professionals.
* Easy to learn: SQL's syntax is relatively straightforward, making it accessible to both beginners and experienced developers.
Other query languages for relational databases (though less common):
* QBE (Query By Example): A visual query language where users create queries by filling out tables.
* AQL (ArangoDB Query Language): Used for NoSQL databases like ArangoDB but can also be used for relational data within ArangoDB.
* Datalog: A logic-based query language often used for data warehousing and knowledge representation.
While SQL is the dominant language, it's important to note:
* NoSQL databases: These databases often use their own query languages, like MongoDB's "find" command or Cassandra's CQL (Cassandra Query Language).
* Specialized query languages: Some applications may use specialized query languages tailored for specific domains, like scientific databases or geographic information systems.
In conclusion, SQL is the most widely used query language for relational databases due to its standardization, power, and ease of use. However, other query languages exist for specialized needs or different database types.