Overview
ISO/IEC 19075-10:2024 - "Information technology - Guidance for the use of database language SQL - Part 10: SQL model (Guide/Model)" is a guidance standard that describes the SQL model used across the ISO/IEC 9075 family. It explains the meanings and relationships of core SQL concepts (as defined in ISO/IEC 9075-1, -2 and -11), provides historical background and a high-level overview of key SQL features, and uses text plus graphical illustrations to clarify the model. Note: the ISO/IEC 9075 series avoids using the term “database” in a formal sense; this document nevertheless uses it informally to mean “a collection of data managed by an SQL-implementation at any given time.”
Key topics and technical coverage
This guide focuses on the conceptual and practical model of SQL and covers the following major topics:
- SQL model origin and components (relational model, syntax conventions, terminology)
- Data integrity (transactions, constraints, predicates, functional dependencies)
- Queries, expressions and statements (sets vs. multisets, query expressions, joins, subqueries, views)
- Data structure and metadata (definition schema, information schema, SQL descriptors)
- SQL environment and components (clients, servers, sessions, connections, client‑server model, cursors)
- Access methods (interactive SQL, module languages, embedded and dynamic SQL, Call-Level Interface)
- Active databases (referential integrity, referential actions, triggers)
- Transaction and security models (transaction isolation phenomena, user identification, privileges, owner/definer/invoker rights)
- Diagnostics and datatypes (SQLSTATE, diagnostics area, built-in and user-defined types)
- Schema creation/manipulation and conformance to ISO/IEC 9075
These topics are described conceptually and illustrated (tables, figures, examples) rather than prescribing implementation-specific details.
Practical applications and who should use it
ISO/IEC 19075-10:2024 is intended for:
- Database implementers and vendors building SQL-compliant products who need to align their internal models with ISO/IEC 9075 semantics.
- DBAs and system architects designing schemas, integrity constraints, and client-server deployments who require a formal model reference.
- Developers and integrators using embedded, dynamic or module-based SQL to understand interaction models and diagnostics.
- Standards writers, auditors and educators needing authoritative explanations of SQL concepts and terminology.
Use cases include clarifying integrity and transaction behavior, designing metadata or information-schema-aware tools, and documenting conformance requirements.
Related standards
- ISO/IEC 9075 series (SQL): especially parts 1, 2 and 11 referenced by this guide.
- Other ISO/IEC 19075 parts for SQL guidance as applicable.
Keywords: ISO/IEC 19075-10:2024, SQL model, SQL standard guidance, data integrity, transactions, embedded SQL, information schema, SQL diagnostics, ISO/IEC 9075.