Since SQL:1999 the standard is divided into several parts numbered from 1 though 16 (as of SQL:2023). Some of them were never released (5-8, 12), others never became mainstream. Leaving the meta-part (part 1) aside, only part 2 (the SQL language), part 11 (Information Schema) and part 14 (XML) became widely implemented. Part 15 (MDA) and part 16 were just released so it is too early to see whether they becomes widespread adopted or not.
- Part 1 - Framework
A rough overview and some definitions of commonly used terms. Available as free download from ISO.
- Part 2 - Foundation
Defines most of the SQL language (other parts extend it—e.g., for XML functionality).
- Part 3 - Call-Level Interface (SQL/CLI)
Describes C and COBOL APIs to access SQL databases.
- Part 4 - Persisted Stored Modules (SQL/PSM)
Defines a language used for server-side programming (“stored procedures”).
- Part 5 - Host Language Bindings (SQL/Bindings)
Merged into part 2 with SQL:2003 (withdrawal notice).
- Part 6 - Global Transaction Support (SQL/Transaction)
Never released(?)
- Part 7 - Temporal (SQL/Temporal)
Never released. Temporal support was eventually added to SQL:2011 part 2.
- Part 8 - Extended Object Support
Never released. Content absorbed into other parts (notice).
- Part 9 - Management of External Data (SQL/MED)
Defines mechanisms to access data stored outside the database.
- Part 10 - Object Language Bindings (SQL/OLB)
Defines how to embed SQL statements into Java programs. This is not JDBC, which treats SQL statements as strings (“dynamic SQL”).
- Part 11 - Information and Definition Schemas (SQL/Schemata)
Defines
INFORMATION_SCHEMAandDEFINITION_SCHEMA, which were covered in part 2 prior SQL:2003.- Part 12 - Replication (SQL/Replication)
Never released.
- Part 13 - Routines and Types Using the Java Programming Language (SQL/JRT)
Defines how to run Java inside the database.
- Part 14 - XML-Related Specifications (SQL/XML)
Defines the XML data type and methods to work on XML documents. Appeared with SQL:2003.
- Part 15 - Multi dimensional arrays (SQL/MDA)
First appeared in 2019. See ISO.
- Part 16 - Property Graph Query (SQL/PGQ)
First appeared in 2023. Embeds parts of the new GQL-Standard in SQL.
Paper: Graph Pattern Matching in GQL and SQL/PGQ — “presents the key elements of the GPML of SQL/PGQ and GQL in advance of the publication of these new standards.”
