BASIS OF COMPARISON | SQL | PL/SQL |
Describe | SQL refers to simple statements like Insert, Create, Select, update which can be used to select and manipulate data from database. | PL/SQL is a programmable version of SQL which provides lot of functionalities like loops, functions, variables, similar to other programmable languages like java, etc. |
Definition | SQL is Structured Query Language created to manipulate relational databases. | PL/SQL is a Procedural language/ programing language that uses SQL as its database. |
Nature | SQL is a declarative database. | PL/SQL is a procedural language that defines how things will execute. |
Variables | There are no variables in SQL. | PL/SQL has variable constraints, data types etc. |
Execution of Code | In SQL, a particular query is executed at a time. These queries can be insert, update, delete or select statements. | In PL/SQL, an entire block of code is executed at once. |
Interaction With Server | It interacts with the database server directly. | It cannot interact with the database server directly. |
Insertion of Code Statement | SQL statements can be inserted within the PL/SQL programs. | PL/SQL code statements cannot be inserted in the SQL code. |
Writing of Queries | In SQL you can write queries and command using DDL, DML statements. | In PL/SQL you can write block of code that has procedures, functions, triggers, packages, variables within its syntax. |