SQL SERVER difference between DDL, DML and DCL commands

DDL is Data Definition Language statements. Some examples:

• CREATE – to create objects in the database
• ALTER – alters the structure of the database
• DROP – delete objects from the database
• TRUNCATE – remove all records from a table, including all spaces allocated for the records are removed
• COMMENT – add comments to the data dictionary
• GRANT – gives user's access privileges to database
• REVOKE – withdraw access privileges given with the GRANT command

DML is Data Manipulation Language statements. Some examples:

• SELECT – retrieve data from the a database
• INSERT – insert data into a table
• UPDATE – updates existing data within a table
• DELETE – deletes all records from a table, the space for the records remain
• CALL – call a PL/SQL or Java subprogram
• EXPLAIN PLAN – explain access path to data
• LOCK TABLE – control concurrency

DCL is Data Control Language statements. Some examples:

• COMMIT – save work done
• SAVEPOINT – identify a point in a transaction to which you can later roll back
• ROLLBACK – restore database to original since the last COMMIT
• SET TRANSACTION – Change transaction options like what rollback segment to use