SQL, or Structured Query Language, is a standard language for managing relational databases. It was created in the 1970s by IBM researchers Donald Chamberlin and Raymond Boyce to implement Edgar Codd's concept of relational data models. SQL has become widely adopted across various database platforms, including enterprise relational databases like Oracle and Microsoft SQL Server, as well as desktop and embedded databases like SQLite and Microsoft Access. It is also used in cloud-based databases such as Google Cloud, Amazon Web Services, and Microsoft Azure. SQL databases store tables of information within a set of row and column definitions known as schemas, allowing users to insert new data, extract it later using simple queries, and perform on-the-fly computations using their values. Different types of SQL databases exist, including analytic databases like Snowflake and Teradata, NoSQL databases that integrate SQL for querying and accessing data, and hybrid cloud databases that combine the benefits of relational and NoSQL databases. Additionally, SQL is used in various applications such as business intelligence dashboards, event streaming systems, and big data analytics.