New to SQL and databases

[rmill9681]

Hello everyone. I am just getting started with databases and sql. I am a little confused with all the new terms. Here are several questions. Please answer whatever you can:

1. I have heard about Oracle, MySQL, and MS-SQL. Are these servers? Is database server a more accurate description? Would Apache be a web server and not related to Oracle, MySQL, etc.?

2. Is MySQL a server and a language?

3. What is sqlplus?

4. If someone said "We will run some SQL queries on sqlplus on MS-SQL", what does that mean?

sorry for so many questions, but I'm about to take a database course and would like to be a little prepared.

thanks.

[redhead]

Originally posted by rmill9681
1. I have heard about Oracle, MySQL, and MS-SQL. Are these servers? Is database server a more accurate description? Would Apache be a web server and not related to Oracle, MySQL, etc.?

Oracle, MySQL an MS-SQL are database servers, Apache is a webserver, it has no interaction with any database server, languages like PHP are there for the webserver to perform actions uppon the database server and report the results back through the webserver.

Originally posted by rmill9681

2. Is MySQL a server and a language?

In any database server there is a language with which you can ask it to return/perform actions onto the data stored in it, for MySQL theres a certain syntax, it might be similar to Oracle or MS-SQL but depending on the databse, the syntax may vary, it is usualy formed from the SQL syntax, usualy the difference is restricted to the use of buildin functions like COUNT or LIMIT

Originally posted by rmill9681

3. What is sqlplus?

If I remember correct, the sqlplus is a set of classes with which you can talk to the Oracle database from a C++ program, where you would create an environment and within this, the text strings are treated as if you were sending the commands directly to the database.
Or perhaps my memory is fading, it's been nearly 4 years since I've used it.

[technobard]

sqlplus is the commandline interface to Oracle. From the "SQL>" prompt, you can run the various sql commands: select, insert, update, delete, etc.

4. If someone said "We will run some SQL queries on sqlplus on MS-SQL", what does that mean?

If someone actually said #4 above, it means they didn't really know what they were talking about. MS-SQL refers to Microsoft SQLServer while sqlplus is an Oracle program.

[rmill9681]

thanks for all hte help and not ripping me for any dumb questions. As for 4, it was posted on my database design course site by the prof...havent started the class yet, but that doesnt seem good.