SQL:2023


SQL:2023 or ISO/IEC 9075:2023 is the ninth edition of the ISO and ANSI standard for the SQL database query language. It was formally adopted in June 2023.

New features

SQL:2023 includes new and updated features. The changes can be grouped into three main areas:
  • Property graph queries, a graph query language built on top of SQL
  • *The new part 16, “Property Graph Queries ”, has been added to the SQL standard.
  • New features related to JSON
  • *JSON data type
  • *Enhanced JSON data type
  • *String-based JSON
  • *Hex integer literals in SQL/JSON path language
  • *SQL/JSON simplified accessor
  • *SQL/JSON item methods
  • *JSON comparison
  • Various smaller changes to the existing SQL language :
  • *UNIQUE null treatment
  • *ORDER BY in grouped table
  • *GREATEST and LEAST
  • *String padding functions
  • *Multi-character TRIM function
  • *Optional string types maximum length
  • *Enhanced cycle mark values
  • *ANY_VALUE
  • *Underscores in numeric literals

    Property Graph Queries (SQL/PGQ)

reduces the difference in functionality between relational DBMSs and native graph DBMSs. Basically, this new feature makes it easier to query data in tables as if it were in a graph database, providing a possibly more intuitive alternative to writing complex join queries.
In comparison, the GQL standard for graph DBMSs adds graph updates, querying multiple graphs, and queries that return a graph result rather than a binding table.