SQL:2008
SQL:2008 is the sixth revision of the ISO and ANSI standard for the SQL database query language. It was formally adopted in July 2008. The standard consists of 9 parts which are described in detail in SQL. The next iteration is SQL:2011
New features
Additions to the Foundation include- enhanced MERGE and DIAGNOSTIC statements,
- the TRUNCATE TABLE statement,
- comma-separated WHEN clauses in a CASE expression,
- INSTEAD OF database triggers,
- partitioned JOIN tables,
- support for various XQuery regular expression/pattern-matching features, and
- enhancements to derived column names.