Title: SQL vs MySQL
Last modified: August 18, 2016

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# SQL vs MySQL

 *  [Ocean](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ocean/)
 * (@ocean)
 * [22 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/sql-vs-mysql/)
 * I’m going to get a book on (My)SQL so I can learn a bit more about it. My question
   is this… I know that MySQL is a specific product/version of SQL. But, how does
   MySQL differ from SQL? Would I benefit more from getting a book on MySQL since
   that is what I mostly use (I have the option for postgres on my site, but don’t
   use it), or would it be better to get a book on SQL that is software independent
   so I could transfer that knowledge to other versions of SQL?
    Thanks for your
   input. 🙂

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

 *  [TechGnome](https://wordpress.org/support/users/techgnome/)
 * (@techgnome)
 * [22 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/sql-vs-mysql/#post-45232)
 * Well, SQL isn’t a product… it’s a language… Now, if you mean the difference between
   MySQL and MSSQL (Microsoft’s SQL – aka Sql Server) then there are a lot of differences.
   In general SQL is SQL is SQL, and there is a standard, which most databases stick
   too, but some also add on other features.
    I would start out working with a book
   that deals with Standard SQL (or ANSI SQL). 99% of what you would learn there
   will work just about anywhere else. All SQL databases have their differences,
   it’s just a matter of learning the nuances which can only really come with time
   and experimentation. TG
 *  Thread Starter [Ocean](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ocean/)
 * (@ocean)
 * [22 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/sql-vs-mysql/#post-45280)
 * Thanks for the response, TG. Actually, I wanted to know the differences between
   MySQL and standard, non-software specific SQL. As I said above, I know MySQL 
   is a specific product/version (never said SQL was a product *grin*). I was just
   wondering if I’d cripple myself at all learning MySQL first, since learning software
   is not necessarily learning the whole language. MySQL only contains a subset 
   of all the capabilities of SQL as I understand it and I don’t want to begin to
   rely on some ability or function only to find it is specific to the MySQL software
   and not SQL as a whole.
    I may actually pick up books on both MySQL and SQL since
   I use MySQL, but would like to have a broader understanding if I ever need to
   move to MSSQL or postgreSQL, etc.
 *  [TechGnome](https://wordpress.org/support/users/techgnome/)
 * (@techgnome)
 * [22 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/sql-vs-mysql/#post-45290)
 * Actually, if you can do it in MySQL, it’ll work in just about any SQL. MySQL 
   actualy has more restrictions (like, at the moment inner selects are not supported)
   than others. So far the biggest difference I’ve run into is the use of the LIMIT
   keyword. In MySQL, it allows you to determine how many rows to return and starting
   with what row – something I wish MSSQL had.
    I wouldn’t worrytoo much about crippling
   yourself by working with MySQL first. It’s just another flavor of standard SQL
   TG
 *  Thread Starter [Ocean](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ocean/)
 * (@ocean)
 * [22 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/sql-vs-mysql/#post-45299)
 * Thanks. That pretty much cinches it for me. 🙂 I’ve ordered this one from amazon:
   
   [http://www.sitepoint.com/books/phpmysql1/](http://www.sitepoint.com/books/phpmysql1/)
   Read the first few sample chapters and was impressed. 🙂

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

The topic ‘SQL vs MySQL’ is closed to new replies.

 * In: [Everything else WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/miscellaneous/)
 * 4 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [Ocean](https://wordpress.org/support/users/ocean/)
 * Last activity: [22 years, 1 month ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/sql-vs-mysql/#post-45299)
 * Status: not resolved

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