DDL

Stands for "Data Definition Language." A DDL is a language used to define data structures and modify data. For example, DDL commands can be used to add, remove, or modify tables within in a database. DDLs used in database applications are considered a subset of SQL, the Structured Query Language. However, a DDL may also define other types of data, such as XML.

A Data Definition Language has a pre-defined syntax for describing data. For example, to build a new table using SQL syntax, the CREATE command is used, followed by parameters for the table name and column definitions. The DDL can also define the name of each column and the associated data type. Once a table is created, it can be modified using the ALTER command. If the table is no longer needed, the DROP command can be used to delete the table.

Since DDL is a subset of SQL, it does not include all the possible SQL commands. For example, commands such as SELECT and INSERT are considered part of the Data Manipulation Language (DML), while access commands such as CONNECT and EXECUTE are part of the Data Control Language (DCL). The DDL, DML, and DCL languages include most of the commands supported by SQL.