This document discusses database management systems (DBMS) and structured query language (SQL). It defines a DBMS as a collection of interrelated data and programs to access the data that manages a database for a particular enterprise. It then lists common database applications and notes how databases impact many aspects of life. The document proceeds to define SQL as a query language that allows users to specify conditions to retrieve data from a database file. It describes the basic concepts and components of SQL, including data definition language, data manipulation language, and data control language.