What Is a Query? Database Query Explained

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In standard English, a query means a request for information. In computer programming, it refers to the same thing, except the information is retrieved from a database.

However, writing a query requires a set of pre-defined code to make the database understand the instruction. This concept is also known as the query language.

While the standard language for database management is Structured Query Language (SQL), other query languages to make database communication easy include AQL, Datalog, and DMX.

This article will explain how a query works, examples of queries, and cover the steps of writing them in the database.

How Does Query Work?

Let’s say that you want to order an Americano at a coffee shop. You make a request by saying, “Can I have an Americano?”. The barista will understand the meaning of your request and give you the ordered item.

A query works the same way – it adds meaning to the code, allowing the system to understand and execute actions accordingly. Be it SQL or any other query language, both the user and the database can exchange information as long as they use the same language.

Meanwhile, a well-designed database stores data in multiple tables. They consist of columns that hold the data’s attributes, along with rows or records of information. A query then helps retrieve data from different tables, arrange them, and display them according to the commands.

A query can either be a select, an action, or a combination of both. Select queries can retrieve information from data sources, and action queries work for data manipulation, for example, to add, change or delete data.

Advanced users can also use query commands to perform various programming tasks, from creating MySQL users and granting permissions to changing WordPress URLs in MySQL databases.

Below are some of the most common query commands along with their functions:

• SELECT – fetch data from the database. It’s one of the most popular commands, as every request begins with a select query.
• AND – combine data from one or more tables.
• CREATE TABLE – build different tables and specify the name of each column within.
• ORDER BY – sort data results either numerically or alphabetically.
• SUM – summarize data from a specific column.
• UPDATE – modify existing rows in a table.
• INSERT – add new data or rows to an existing table.
• WHERE – filter data and get its value based on a set condition.

For more variations, combine some of the commands above. For example, pair the SELECT query with other commands like AND or SUM to aggregate data or combine results.

Besides using query language to request information from a database, other methods include:

• Using available parameters. By default, the database software has lists of parameters that users can define as they need. These parameters deal with exchanging information between user-defined functions (UDF) and stored procedures (SP).
• Query by example (QBE). Relational databases use a graphical query language. The system will show a code template in which you can write and specify the fields and values of your data. So instead of writing complete SQL statements, a user can fill the blank areas.
• Installing database plugins. An ideal solution for beginners – the plugins let users perform various database tasks, including queries, with only a few clicks. Additionally, some plugins come with optimization features to ensure the best performance.

In addition to databases, search engines can also query and retrieve information. However, the term query in these two technologies differs.

Web search query refers to keywords that users type in the search engine, while database query is a particular action to make a request for information.

Now that you understand the basic fundamentals of queries, let’s study several standard terms you might come across when querying a database:

• Query string – a portion of URL to pass requests from the web to the database.
• Query parameters – elements attached to the end of an URL to specify a particular query on the database.
• Query folding – refers to a process where the Power Query is enabled to transform complex calculations for query optimization.
• Query containment – happens when one query is contained in another, if it is independent of the stored data values.

Query Languages

As mentioned before, choosing the database and its language is crucial when working with queries. In addition to SQL, there is another type of database called NoSQL (Not Only Structured Query Language). The main difference between the two is the data structure.

SQL databases are relational and use predefined schemas that require you to specify your data structure. On the other hand, NoSQL databases are non-relational and have dynamic schemas for unstructured data.

Regardless, both SQL and NoSQL provide applicable options. An SQL database is a great choice for an ACID-compliant data structure. Conversely, if you have unstructured documents, key-values, or graphs, a NoSQL database might be an ideal choice.

Query Examples

Before we delve into the examples, below are the main benefits of using a query:

• Review data from multiple tables simultaneously.
• Filter records containing only certain fields and of certain criteria.
• Automate data management tasks and perform calculations.

Now, let’s suppose you have collected some data from a survey. Below is a snippet of your data. Note that for this example, we will use an SQL database.

Data source: Participant (Table Name)

ID	Name	Sex	Age	Occupation
1	John	Male	17	Student
2	Peter	Male	26	Unemployed
3	Margareth	Female	34	Teacher
4	Lea	Female	34	Unemployed

Selecting Only the “Name” and “Occupation” Columns From the “Participant” Table

This example shows you how to create a select query that only returns the value for Name and Occupation. The SQL statement should look something like this:

SELECT Name, Occupation FROM Participant 

The statement above filters specific data from the table. It will generate the following result table:

Name	Occupation
John	Student
Peter	Unemployed
Margareth	Teacher
Lea	Unemployed

To select other types of data from the table, change the variables accordingly.

Deleting Data From the Unemployed Respondents

The DELETE query works to remove existing records from particular tables. In this example, we are going to delete the Unemployed records using the following statement:

DELETE FROM Participant WHERE Occupation = ‘Unemployed’

Hit enter, and this will remove the respective records and return this output:

ID	Name	Sex	Age	Occupation
1	John	Male	17	Student
3	Margareth	Female	34	Teacher

Inserting a New Row Containing a Participant Called Mario

In a broader scene, the INSERT INTO query inserts data into the MySQL database via MySQLi and PHP Data Object. However, this example will show how to use the query to add a new row to a database table.

There are two different ways to incorporate this SQL statement:

1. If you’re adding new values and fields, specify all the elements. Hence, the statement will look like this:

INSERT INTO <em>table_name</em> (<em>column1</em>,<em> column2</em>,<em> column3</em>, ...)
VALUES (<em>value1</em>,<em> value2</em>,<em> value3</em>, ...);

2. If you’re only adding new values to all existing columns, use the statement below:

INSERT INTO <em>table_name</em>
VALUES (<em>value1</em>,<em> value2</em>,<em> value3</em>, ...);

Changing Margareth’s Occupation to “Headmaster”

To modify existing records in a table, use the UPDATE query. Meanwhile, to specify which rows to update, use the WHERE query. 

In this case, we’re going to edit Margareth’s occupation to Headmaster. Thus, the SQL statement will be:

UPDATE Participant SET Occupation = ‘Headmaster’ WHERE ID = ‘3’

The query runs to update row 3 into the specified value and shows the following output:

ID	Name	Sex	Age	Occupation
1	John	Male	17	Student
2	Peter	Male	26	Unemployed
3	Margareth	Female	34	Headmaster
4	Lea	Female	34	Unemployed

Wrapping Up

A query can either be a select or action query – select queries pick parts of your data, while action queries manipulate retrieved data. 

A query can also work with the combination of both actions to perform more varied tasks, for example, to review, insert, modify, or delete data, as well as calculate and combine data from multiple tables.

Database queries show that manipulating data doesn’t have to be complicated. Most query languages are intuitive and are easy to learn once you understand some basic rules. For those who don’t feel comfortable coding, you can use database plugins or Query by example as alternatives.

We hope this article has shed more light on database query and how it works. Don’t hesitate to leave a comment below if you are still experiencing problems with database queries.