MySQL Basics Practice Test: SQL Syntax — Flashcards

Quiz on SQL statement syntax, compound statement and comment syntax.

SQL syntax is a set of rules and guidelines that define how to perform actions on data in a database. SQL statements must start with a keyword, and all end with a semicolon. SQL is case insensitive, so SELECT and Select have the same meaning. 

Here are some examples of SQL statements:
SELECT: Reads data from the database and displays it to the user
UPDATE: Modifies data in the database
DELETE: Deletes data from the database
CREATE DATABASE: Creates a database
USE: Changes the current location to the required database
DROP DATABASE: Deletes a database 

SQL commands are made up of tokens that can be literals, keywords, identifiers, or expressions. Tokens are separated by space, tabs, or newlines. 

Here are some common SQL clauses:
FROM: Identifies the specific table or tables containing the fields specified in the SELECT clause
IN: Allows you to specify multiple values in a WHERE clause 

SQL syntax notation includes:
Curly brackets: Enclose two or more required alternative choices, separated by vertical bars
Square brackets: Indicate an optional element or clause
Vertical bars: Separate two or more alternative syntax element