Difference Between SQL and PLSQL

In this article, we will learn what SQL is, What PLSQL is, their types, features, applications, and their differences.

In the ever-evolving data management world, SQL and PL/SQL are the two main languages ​​driving efficient processing and analysis of relational databases. Despite their common goal of managing data, the two languages ​​play different roles and have different characteristics.

Must Check: SQL Online Course and Certifications

In this article, we will learn what SQL is, What PLSQL is, and their differences based on different parameters. 

Table of Content

• Difference Between PLSQL and SQL: PLSQL vs SQL
• What is SQL?
  • Types of SQL
  • Features of SQL
  • Application of SQL
• What is PLSQL?
  • Types of PLSQL
  • Features of PLSQL
  • Application of PLSQL

Difference Between SQL and PLSQL: SQL vs PLSQL

What is SQL?

Structured Query Language, or SQL, is a standardized programming language for managing relational databases. Created by IBM in the 1970s, SQL has since become the de facto standard for interacting with databases and is now supported by almost every relational database system.

SQL is primarily used for querying and manipulating data. It allows users to insert, update, delete, and retrieve data within a database, facilitating smooth data handling. Moreover, it’s also used for creating and modifying a database’s schema (structure), including tables, indexes, and database constraints.

Types of SQL

• Data Definition Language (DDL): These are SQL statements used to define or change the structure of a database. This category includes commands such as CREATE, ALTER, DROP and TRUNCATE.
• Data Manipulation Language (DML): DML contains commands to manipulate data in existing database objects. The main commands are INSERT, UPDATE and DELETE. 
• Data Query Language (DQL): DQL is used to query data within schema objects. The main command in DQL is SELECT.
• Data Control Language (DCL): DCL contains commands like GRANT and REVOKE, mostly used to grant or revoke permissions on database objects.

Features of SQL

• High Flexibility: SQL can interact with multiple databases, from small local to large cloud databases. 
• Standardization: SQL is a standard language recognized by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). 
• Data Manipulation: SQL excels at querying and manipulating data, enabling complex operations using commands such as SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE and DELETE. 
• Portability: SQL scripts can be run on multiple database systems with minor modifications, enabling seamless data management across multiple platforms. 
• Security: SQL provides robust security and management features, including user access control and transaction management.

Application of SQL in Different Domains

• Web Development: Web development uses SQL to interact with databases. It is integral to building dynamic websites that store, retrieve and process data, allowing developers to provide customized user experiences.

• Data Analysis: SQL is a data analysis tool to extract, clean and process data. SQL used to perform complex database queries, analyze data patterns, and generate reports.

• Data Science and Machine Learning: SQL is essential for data scientists and machine learning engineers working with large data sets. It is used for extracting, preprocessing and feeding data into machine learning algorithms.
• Business Intelligence (BI): BI uses SQL to gather useful insights from data. BI professionals use SQL for advanced analytical reporting, market research and strategic decision-making.
• Database Administration and Management: Database administrators use SQL to manage and maintain databases. They use SQL to perform tasks such as data backup, performance tuning, and data migration.

What is PLSQL?

PL/SQL, or Procedural Language for SQL, is an extension of SQL developed by Oracle Corporation. It combines the declarative nature of SQL with the procedural features found in programming languages, enabling more powerful and complex operations on the Oracle database. PL/SQL is primarily used to write and execute procedures, functions, triggers, and packages in the Oracle database environment.

Types of PLSQL

PLSQL allows the creation of four types of objects:

• Procedures: These modules perform a specific task and can be called by other procedures, functions, triggers, or in isolation. 
• Functions: Like procedures, functions perform a specific task and return a value. 
• Triggers: These are special stored procedures automatically executed when a specific event occurs in the database. 
• Packages: Packages are containers for procedures, functions, variables, constants, pointers, and exceptions. They help group logically related PL/SQL types and objects.

Also Read: Implementing Cursor with PL/SQL

Features of PLSQL

• Procedural Language Constructs: PL/SQL integrates procedural constructs with SQL, such as conditional statements (IF-THEN-ELSE) and loops (FOR, WHILE).  
• Exception handling: It provides robust exception-handling capabilities that allow the programmer to handle unexpected errors at runtime efficiently. 
• Security: Storing PL/SQL code in the database protects the logic from entering the user interface, improving the application’s security. 
• Efficiency: PL/SQL enables batch execution of SQL statements, reducing network traffic and improving performance. 
• Portability: PL/SQL programs are portable to Oracle databases regardless of operating system or platform.

Application of PLSQL

• Database Management: PL/SQL’s native integration with Oracle makes it a powerful tool for managing Oracle databases, implementing business rules and calculations, and developing complex database applications. 
• Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP): In ERP systems like Oracle’s E-Business Suite, PL/SQL is widely used to develop, integrate, and customize enterprise solutions. 
• Customer Relationship Management (CRM): CRM systems use PL/SQL to interact with databases, implement business logic, and integrate applications. 
• Business Intelligence: PL/SQL is used in BI to process and manipulate large volumes of data, generate reports and provide analytical capabilities.

Conclusion

In this article, we have discussed what SQL is, What PLSQL is, their types, features, applications, and their differences.

Hope you will like the article.

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