1. Before digging into SQL and RDBMS

In order to understand SQL and RDBMS, we first have to make sure everyone is on the same page about the definition of the relational database.

A database is a systematic collection of information, or data.

A relational database is a database that stores data in a table form, containing columns and rows. It has one or more data categories in columns. Each row, or record, contains a set of data defined by the category, or column.

A relational database typically has more than one table and they might have interrelation and this relationship will be set via the use of the foreign key.

In plain term, you can imagine a spreadsheet where each column is a data field and each row is a record, and this spreadsheet can link to another one using a column with unique row values.

Some advantages of the relational database:

  • Easy to categorize and store structured data for faster querying and filtering.
  • Easy to scale and aren’t reliant on physical organization
  • Mature and well-understood database model.
  • High level of security

2. What is SQL?

SQL, or Structured Query Language, is the standard language for dealing with Relational Databases. It’s used to perform data interacting tasks such as:

  • Creating a table and inserting data into it.
  • Querying and filtering data.
  • Modifying and updating data.
  • Delete data or table.

SQL is pronounced as “S-Q-L” or sometimes as “Sequel”. This also raises an extreme argument within the database community. There’s no right and wrong, it’s just the matter of preference.

3. What is RDBMS?

A database management system (DBMS) is a system software for creating and managing databases. The DBMS provides users and programmers with a systematic way to create, retrieve, update and manage data.

RDBMS stands for Relational Database Management System. It’s a database management system that is based on the relational model, storing data in relational databases.

4. How do SQL and RDBMS relate to each other?

RDBMS is a database management system.

And SQL is the language used for communicating with data in an RDBMS.

Or in the plain term, RDBMS is a book and SQL is the language being used in the book. You want to read or write to the book? Use SQL.

Although almost every relational database management system uses SQL as the standard language, most of them also have their own additional proprietary extensions that are usually only used on their system, thus the syntax and function might be a little bit different from each other.


Need a good GUI Tool for relational database? Try TablePlus. It’s is a modern, native GUI that allows you to simultaneously manage multiple databases such as MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, Microsoft SQL Server… faster and easier.


Download TablePlus for Mac.

Not on Mac? Download TablePlus for Windows.

On Linux? Download TablePlus for Linux

Need a quick edit on the go? Download TablePlus for iOS.

TablePlus GUI Tool MySQL