What is SQL?

Structured Query Language (SQL) is a powerful, non-procedural, database language that is used to
create, maintain and retrieve the relational database (a type of database that provides and stores
data that are related to each other). Developed by IBM in the 1970s, it enables end-users to interact
with several database management systems as per availability.

SQL offers a larger degree of abstraction than procedural (code that is written as a sequence of
instructions) languages and is quite user-friendly. SQL is very popular among programmers and is
used by more than 50 percent of programmers. Some features of SQL are:

• It is a Data Manipulation Language (DML) – It is used to modify data.

• It is Data Definition Language (DDL) – It contains instructions that will determine the data.

• It provides Client Service Execution and also

• helps in remote access of databases.

• It provides security and authentication features.

• It can be used to commit, roll back and save all

• our changes.

There are six types of commands in SQL. They are as follows:

• Data Manipulation Language (DML)

• Data Definition Language (DDL)

• Data Control Language (DCL)

• Transaction Control Language (TCL)

• Data Query Language (DQL)

Advantages of SQL

SQL has numerous advantages which makes it a highly popular and reliable language to use. Some of
them are as follows:

Coding skills are not needed – It is quite easy to manage the database without the need to write a
large number of lines of code.

High query processing speed – A huge chunk of data can be retrieved quickly and with high
accuracy. Operations such as insertion, deletion, manipulation of data also do not take much time.

The standards are well defined – SQL has been accepted by ANSI and ISO/IEC as the standard
language for a relational database. It also provides great documentation and a uniform platform
worldwide to all its users. The community of SQL is so active that people and businesses get inclined
towards technology.

Portable – SQL can be used to program in PCs, servers, laptops, and some mobile phones
independent of any platform.

User-friendly – SQL is easy to learn and understand. It is a go-to relational language for beginners.
Interactive Language – Easy to learn and understand, answers to complex queries can be received in
seconds.

Multiple data views – SQL can be used to make different views of the database structure. This
means that it enables users to create virtual tables which also has rows and column – which in turn
helps the users to analyze and slice the data in multiple ways to formulate different perspectives of
the data.

Disadvantages of SQL

The disadvantages of SQL are given below:

Complex interface – The interface offered by SQL is complex which sometimes makes it difficult for
users to access.

Partial Control – SQL programmers don’t have complete control over the database because of the
hidden business rules.

Operating Cost – The operating cost of some SQL versions is quite high which makes it difficult for
some programmers to access it.

Implementational Challenge – There are some databases available in markets that have SQL as a
parent database. Hence, there is a vendor lock-in that needs to be addressed.

Tables Dependency – When we create a view based on underlying tables of a database and change
the structure of those tables. In such a case we will have to change the view as well. This makes the
task more complex.

What is PL SQL?

PL/SQL is a procedural (code that is written as a sequence of instructions) language that enables
programmers to combine the power of SQL with procedural statements. PL/SQL stands for
Procedural Language extensions to SQL. In PL/SQL, all the statements are executed at once which
consists of triggers, functions, procedures, etc, that enhance the functionality of an operation and
decrease the traffic. Developed by Oracle Corporation in the 1990s, it was designed to build server
pages and web applications and exhibits features such as abstraction and error handling.

The structure of a PL/SQL block consists of four parts: Declare, Begin, Exception and End. It is
illustrated in the figure below.
PL SQL Block

Features of PL SQL

Some features of PL/SQL are:

• PL/SQL is tightly integrated with SQL. It possesses all capabilities of SQL.

• It helps in checking the error very precisely.

• There are a lot of different data types and data structures which are provided by PL/SQL.

• Structured programming is supported by the usage of functions and procedures. It has

added support for OOPs (Object Oriented Programming)

• Development of Server Pages and Web Applications can also be achieved.

Advantages of PL SQL

There are numerous advantages of using PL/SQL. Some of them are mentioned below:

Block Structures – Each PL/SQL block of code forms a unit of task and can be reused.

Better performance – PL/SQL executes all statements in bulk rather than a single statement which
increases the processing speed.

Posses capabilities of procedural language – Conditional (if-else statements) and Iterative (loops
such as for, while do-while) constructs are offered by PL/SQL.

Supports error handling – Error and exceptions are handled by PL/SQL with high accuracy.

Disadvantages of PL SQL

The disadvantages of PL/SQL are mentioned below:

Limited I/O features – PL/SQL provides very limited support for I/O either to read/write files or to
read from or write to a user interface.

Complex syntax – Sometimes, PL/SQL is not very easy for programmers to follow due to its complex
and inconsistent syntax.

Proprietary to Oracle – It means that if one has to change the database vendors then the user would
have to update all the existing Oracle PL/SQL code. It is a bit expensive.

Not beginner-friendly – Certain concepts in PL/SQL can become difficult for beginners to understand

Key Differences

There are many differences between SQL and PL/SQL. SQL is a non-procedural language that
executes a single query at a time whereas, PL/SQL is a procedural language and executes blocks of
code at once which helps reduce traffic and increases processing speed. PL/SQL provides supports
features such as variables, conditional (if-else statements), and iterative (loops such as for, while)
constructs. SQL does not provide support for these features. PL/SQL also offers error and exception
handling features that do not exist in SQL. PL/SQL is used to write a programming block that has
procedures, functions, triggers, packages, variables within its syntax. On the other hand, SQL queries
and commands are written using DDL (Data Definition Language), DML (Data Manipulation
Language).

Difference Between SQL and PLSQL

SQL PL/SQL

It is a procedural language that is

It is a structured query language for databases. designed to implement SQL
statements in a better way.

Group of operations is performed in

The query executes a single operation at a time
a single block

PL/SQL is procedural (code that is

SQL is declarative (program specifies what is to be done than
written as a sequence of
how it is to be done)
instructions)

PL/SQL is used to write program

SQL is used in relational databases to execute various queries
blocks, procedures, functions,
like create table, delete table, insert into table etc.
cursors, triggers, and packages

PL/SQL provides support for

SQL does not support data variables
variable constraints and data types

Control structures such as if-else,

Control structures are not supported
For loop, While loop are supported
SQL is used to retrieve data from the database. We can PL/SQL is used to create web
modify data and table structure with SQL applications and server pages.

It is possible to embed SQL in PLSQL syntax as PLSQL is an Embedding PL/SQL in SQL syntax is
extension of SQL not possible

PL/SQL does not directly interact

SQL directly interacts with the database server
with the database server

PL/SQL handles errors and

Error handling feature is not present in SQL exceptions effectively with the help
of the inbuilt exception handlers.

PL/SQL handles a large chunk of

Handling a large chunk of data can’t be effectively achieved
data effectively with the help of
by SQL
procedures, functions and triggers.

PL/SQL offers a high processing

SQL provides lesser processing speed
speed

Execution of statements in SQL does not result in reduced

Execution of operation results in
traffic as multiple statements cannot get executed at the
reduced network traffic as a block
same time. The queries are executed one at a time which
of statements are executed at once
increases the network traffic.

Certain concepts of PL/SQL can be

SQL is easy to use and understand complex and prior knowledge might
be necessary

PL/SQL supports I/O operations as it

SQL does not support I/O operations can accept inputs and then store
and process it.

Conclusion

PL/SQL is SQL combined with some added procedural features and it performs all the things that SQL
performs but on large volumes of data using procedures, functions, control structures, cursors, and
triggers. SQL tells us what data is needed but does not specify how it can be retrieved. This is where
PL/SQL comes into the picture. The advent of PL/SQL has enabled us to deal with complex SQL
problems with ease which earlier were a pain in the neck. In this era, data is the new oil and
managing data has been of prime importance, unlike any other time. This makes the use of PL/SQL
integral for the functioning of many organizations. Knowledge of SQL and PL/SQL can prove quite
handy.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Which is better: SQL or PL/SQL?

PL/SQL is an extension of SQL and further includes many procedural features like function, data
variables, exception handling and triggers. Moreover, PL/SQL allows us to transfer an entire block of
statements to the database at once whereas SQL executes a single query at a time. This reduces
network traffic. Hence, PL/SQL is better than SQL.

2. Why do we use PL/SQL instead of SQL?

PL/SQL allows us to transfer an entire block of statements to the database at once. This reduces
traffic over the network and increases processing speed. This in turn increases the productivity of
the programmers as they can create, transform and update data with high speed and accuracy. On
the other hand, we can execute a single statement in SQL at a time.

3. Is Oracle SQL the same as PL/SQL?

No, Oracle SQL is not the same as PL/SQL. Oracle SQL is Oracle’s version of the structured query
language. On the other hand, PL/SQL is a Procedural Language developed by Oracle is an extension
of Oracle SQL having the functionalities of functions, control structures, and triggers.

4. Where is PL/SQL used?

PL/SQL is mainly used to design web applications or create back-end logic for web pages. It is also
used in integration with JAVA and PHP to create complex logic.

5. Can we use PL/SQL in MySQL?

No, you cannot use PL/SQL in MySQL.