Does SQL have any versatility?

Question

Is SQL used for anything outside querying databases? Just wondering if I’d ever use it if I decide not to pursue a DB path.

Answer 1

SQL is a DSL, or Domain Specific Language, which means it’s created to just do one specific thing. So you cant really do much more with it than writing queries for databases. If you’re not going to do any db stuff, you could get by without it.

Languages like Python or Java are GPL’s or General Purpose Languages, and they are designed for a lot of different applications.

Answer 2

SQL is made specifically for that job so no not really. Microsoft's Azure Stream Analytics for example uses SQL to query data but that's also kind of similar to a database. There are other services like it too but 99% of use cases are regular old-fashioned databases.

C# has LINQ built in which is similar to SQL, so learning SQL makes sense even if you won't use it that often, similar concepts appear all over the software sciences.

Answer 3

Thanks, thats a really helpful response!

Answer 4

The SQL skillset has proven to be an extremely valuable asset in my career. In fact, I believe SQL to be the single most powerful and versatile “programming” language I know.I have been able to use SQL to solve many problems, and it’s my go-to tool anytime I face a new challenge. In fact, I keep an instance of PostgreSQL running on my laptop so I can quickly hop into my favorite SQL GUI whenever I need to test something out.

Answer 5

Very good to know. Thanks!