.SQL File Extension

Structured Query Language Data File

Developer ISO/IEC
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What is an SQL file?

A SQL file contains Structured Query Language (SQL), which is a language used to access and modify information in a database. It stores SQL statements for creating or modifying database structures, insertions, updates, deletions, or other SQL operations.

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Screenshot of a .sql file in Microsoft Visual Studio Code 1.33
SQL file open in Microsoft Visual Studio Code 1.33

You will most likely only encounter SQL files if you develop or manage web databases. The SQL language first appeared in the 1970s at IBM and was adopted by the ANSI and ISO standard groups in 1986 as the standard language for relational database management systems (RDBMS). Since its adoption, it has gone through multiple revisions to support a wider set of features and has spawned several database language variations, which include Mini SQL (mSQL) and MySQL.

NOTE: SQL may be pronounced as "S-Q-L" or "Sequel."

How to open an SQL file

SQL files can be read by any SQL-compatible database program, such as MySQL and Richardson RazorSQL. You can also open and edit SQL files in various source code editors, such as gVim, Bare Bones BBEdit, and MacroMates TextMate.

If you do not have access to a SQL database program or a source code editor, you can open a SQL file in a plain text editor, such as Microsoft Notepad and Apple TextEdit. Note, however, that these plain text editors will not show the helpful styling and syntax that source code editors provide to help users make sense of SQL files.

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Programs that open SQL files

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Verified by FileInfo.com

The FileInfo.com team has independently researched the Structured Query Language Data file format and Mac, Windows, Linux, and Android apps listed on this page. Our goal is 100% accuracy and we only publish information about file types that we have verified.

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