SQL (Structured Query Language) is a popular computer language that is used by diversegroups such as home computer owners, owners of small businesses, end users in largeorganizations, and programmers。 Although this book uses the SQL implementation in Oracle8 as a vebucle for teaching SQL, the chapter material, examples, and exercises in thisbook are designed to be completed using any soL implementation。A Guide to SQL, Fifth Edition is written for a wide range of teaching levels, includingstudents taking introduaory computer science classes to those students in advanced infor-mation systems classes。This textbook can be used for a stand-alone course on SQL or inconjunction with a database concepts textbook where students are required to learn SQL。The chapters in this textbook should be covered in order。 Students should completethe end-of-chapter exercises and the examples within the chapters for maximum learning。Because the content of Chapter 8 assumes that the reader has had instruction in or experi-ence with at least one programnung language, the instructor should determine whetherstudents will understand the concepts。 Students without a programming background willhave difficulty understanding the topic of embedded SQL。 Instructors can ea8ily omitChapter 8 from the textbook in situations where students are not comfortable with pro-gramming examples。