No computer application is possible without a database, and therefore, for any developer, it is important to have a complete idea for the database and its associates. There are many amateur developers who do not have a clear idea about the difference between the DBMS software and SQL tool. In this article, we are going to address this important aspect. First of all, the database is a collection of data, and it allows the storage and manipulation of data. The reason for using a database rather than storing data in random text file is better management.

To manage these data as per the requirement of the application, there needs to be a proper system. This system is called database management system or DBMS. On the other hand, SQL or Structured Query Language is the programming language that is used to access the database. It is the command you write to manipulate data. Therefore, SQL tools are concerned with manipulating data whereas DBMS is the system of managing the data in the database. In a linear structure, first comes the database, then DMBS, then SQL tools, and finally, the users and the apps. Therefore, SQL tools create the link between DBMS and users and apps.

Difference Between DBMS Software and SQL Tools –

Type – DBMS software applications vary depending on the type of DBMS. There are basically four types of DMBS available. They are hierarchical DBMS, Network DBMS, Relational DBMS, and Object Oriented Relation DBMS. All of them are quite popular, and it depends on the users as well as the application as to which DBMS type is used and accordingly the DBMS software is determined. Hierarchical DBMS has the typical tree and node concept which is good for small applications. When there are too many applications relations involved, the network DBMS is the best. The relational DBMS is the most used with its tabular data concept. The OOR DBMS is for storing new data.

SQL is applicable mostly on a relational database. The SQL tool depends on the operation the tool is about to perform. Some of them are for manipulation, some are for maintenance and others are for optimization. MySQL, Oracle, MS SQL Server, and likewise are some of the popular DBMS software while the popular SQL management tools are Navicat Monitor, Adminer, DBComparer and likewise.

Learning Curve – The learning curve for both of them differs. The DBMS software applications are almost similar as far as the user interface goes. Therefore, the learning curve is not that steep if the DBMS type is the same. However, the learning curve of SQL is flat because once you learn it, you can use it on all DBMS with a few modifications here and there. However, SQL tools vary a lot depending on the purpose they serve. Therefore, you have to put effort to learn them in full details. In short, the learning curve depends on the type of software or tool you are using.

However, when you take about which one of them is easy to learn, obviously, SQL tools are easy as they are limited in their functionalities and very specific in use. But you might be handling multiple SQL tools, and therefore, you have to put it all together. On the other hand, DBMS software will take a lot of time to learn and therefore, you have to invest more time and effort to master it in comparison.

Functions – DBMS software is the application for creating and managing the database. It offers the users the systematic user interface to create, retrieve, and manage data. SQL is used to access DBMS and databases. DBMS does not support distributed property while SQL does and normalization is not available in DBMS but present in SQL. You can use SQL tools to analyze the data you have in your database. Even though SQL is somewhat a smaller part of the entire DBMS, it is not totally engulfed by DBMS. There are certain features that are exclusive in SQL tools, and you cannot do them with any other tool available in a DBMS.

Conclusion –

Both DBMS software as well as SQL tool is needed for any application. DBMS is of no use with SQL language and vice versa. The bottom line is DBMS software is the connector between Database and users or apps, while SQL tool is the connector between DBMS and users or apps. It is more like DBMS is an IDE and SQL is the language to wire on the IDE. DBMS software is the system, and SQL tools are what you need to run it. SQL is the most popular programming language for DBMS till date. But a DBMS software can exist without SQL tools, but a SQL tool is dependent on the database and cannot function without the presence of a database.

Kitty Gupta
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