SQL, Structured Query Language had its origins in the development of relational databases, notably the work of EF Codd while working for IBM in 1979. ("A Relational Model of Large Data for Large Shared Data Banks", http://www.acm.org/classics/nov95/toc.html [Accessed 20th December 2002]).

 

ANSI (The American National Standards Institute) approved SQL as THE standard relational database language. This has since been adopted by ISO (the International Standards Organisation). SQL is the international standard language that developed out of the relational model; any advanced work with relational databases will inevitably involve an understanding of the language.

 

SQL is a declarative language, which means that a database applications programmer only needs to specify WHAT needs to be done, rather than HOW (procedural language) to do it. The Database Manager (RDBMS - Access in our case) will execute the task; transparently as far as the database programmer is concerned.

 

A sound knowledge of SQL will enable you to work not only with Access but with all of the major relational database systems, Oracle, Ingres, SYBASE, and Microsoft's SQL Server, and of course with database driven web sites.