What was the original name of the SQL database language?
Answer
SEQUEL
The original name of the SQL database language was SEQUEL.
Donald Chamberlin and Raymond Boyce developed the language at IBM in the 1970s as part of the System R relational-database project. It was initially called SEQUEL, short for Structured English Query Language, and was designed to let users work with relational data using declarative commands.
The name was later changed to SQL, commonly pronounced “sequel” or spelled out as “S-Q-L.” The change was associated with a trademark conflict involving the name SEQUEL. SQL became the dominant language for querying and managing relational databases.
SQL is standardized, but database systems often add their own extensions and behavior. This means SQL statements that work in one product may require adjustments in another. The original SEQUEL name is a historical fact, not the name of a separate modern database language.