SQL/Database

SQL (Structured Query Language) is the industry standard language for adding, removing, changing or simply retrieving data from a database. It is most commonly used with relational databases, where the data is stored in the rows of one or more tables in which each entry in a column has the same attributes. Using SQL, such tables can be created, deleted, appended or updated. Data can be retrieved from an individual table, or from a join of several tables.

Database support for SQL is practically universal, but many database manufacturers implement their own flavour of the language, such as Transact-SQL. As a historical footnote, SQL is often pronounced "SEQUEL", which was IBM's original name for the "Structured English Query Language", the first version of SQL and the template for the SQL syntax, which tries to mimic spoken English.

This section also includes general information on databases and on non-SQL ways of accessing them.

Related links on the internet

MSDN Online

Microsoft's repository of development knowledge. A vast library coupled with a large downloads section featuring many free products.

SQL-Server-Performance

Many tips for resolving performance issues with Microsoft SQL Server and for troubleshooting common SQL Server problems.

DevGuru

Thousands of pages of expert advice on programming for the internet on Microsoft platforms. Covers ADO, ASP, Jet SQL and WML, as well as the usual web languages.

SQLCourse.com

Tutorial covering the essential SQL commands required to create, populate and delete a database table. Features an online interpreter through which you can test the validity of your SQL. The follow-up tutorial, covering the retrieval of data and table joins, can be found here.

SQL Server Magazine

Online magazine concerned with Microsoft SQL Server. Contains a fully searchable collection of news, articles, code samples and FAQ covering the strengths and weaknesses of SQL Server. Unfortunately, some of the articles are only accessible via a paid subscription, but there's enough freely available SQL Server knowledge to make a visit to this site worthwhile.

Web Monkey

Long established site providing a large number of tutorials and articles about HTML, JavaScript, Perl, PHP, mySQL and many more topics to do with web development and management.

W3Schools Online

If you want to learn about web development, you could do a lot worse than to make this site your first point of reference. It contains the largest collection of tutorials that we've seen so far in just about the widest variety of web technologies, including HTML, XHTML, CSS, XML, XSL, DTD, SOAP, VBScript, JavaScript, SQL, ADO and the .NET products. Fantastic.

Top XML

Gigantic repository of XML knowledge. Includes code snippets, downloads, tutorials and articles on XML, XSL, XSLT, XPath, SOAP, SAX, WAP, SQL, ADO and other notorious acronyms. This is one of the best web development sites that we've seen and is a great reference for the XML beginner and XML veteran alike.

ASP Alliance

Articles about ASP, SQL, XML and more. Contains useful introductory articles on topics such as web services and stored procedures.