SQL (pronounced "ess-que-el") stands for Structured Query Language. SQL is used to communicate with a database whereas PL/SQL is a combination of SQL along with the procedural features of programming languages.
What is PL/SQL
The PL/SQL stands for "Procedural Language extensions to Structured Query Language" and is the advanced version of SQL to perform more complex queries/operations on DB.
BEGIN
DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('Hello World!');
END;
Output
Hello World
What is SQL
Structure Query Language(SQL) is a database query language used for storing and managing data in Relational DBMS. The language was developed by IBM in 1970. It represents the set of relations (tables) in the database using DDL i.e. Data Definition Language.
SELECT COUNT(DISTINCT Country) FROM Customers;
Output
Tablename Records
Customers 91
Categories 8
Employees 10
OrderDetails 518
Orders 196
Products 77
Shippers 3
Suppliers 29
Detailed Comparison
| SQL | PLSQL |
| Structured Query Language | Procedural Query Language |
| Has no variables | Has many variables & data types |
| Executes single query at time | Execute block-wise |
| No loop and if control | Have loop, while and if controls |
| Declarative Language | Procedural Langauge |
| Interacts with the database directly | Doesn't interact with server directly |
Conclusion
SQL is a declarative language that specifies what data is needed. On the other hand, PL/SQL is a procedural language that specifies how data can be retrieved and what information is required.