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What is it
SQL is a plain text file containing Structured Query Language statements — database commands like CREATE TABLE, INSERT, SELECT, and DROP, used for backups, migrations, and sharing database structures. Database commands in a file. They are used for database backups (mysqldump exports SQL), schema migrations, seed data, and sharing database structures between developers. A single SQL file might contain an entire database: tables, indexes, constraints, and data. They can also contain destructive commands, so never execute an SQL file you have not read first. The file itself is harmless — it is just text until you run it against a database.
Technical details
Safety
What opens it
Any text editor
DBeaver
MySQL Workbench
FAQ
How do I open an SQL file?
Any text editor shows the SQL commands as text. To actually run the queries, use a database client like DBeaver (free), MySQL Workbench, or pgAdmin — or the command line (mysql, psql).
What's the difference between SQL and CSV?
CSV is raw data in rows and columns. SQL is a language — an SQL file contains commands that create tables, insert data, and define relationships. SQL is the instructions; CSV is just the data.
Is SQL a programming language?
It is a query language — designed specifically for talking to databases. It is not general-purpose like Python or JavaScript. You can write complex logic in SQL, but its purpose is data retrieval and manipulation, not building applications.
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