For all its popularity and success, SQL is a study in paradox. It can be clunky and verbose, yet developers often find it is the simplest, most direct way to extract the data they want. It can be lightning quick when a query is written correctly, and slow as molasses when the query misses the mark. It’s decades old, but new features are constantly being bolted on.
These paradoxes don’t matter because the market has spoken: SQL is the first choice for many, even given newer and arguably more powerful options. Developers everywhere—from the smallest websites to the biggest mega corporations—know SQL. They rely on it to keep all their data organized.
