Structured Query Language (SQL) is a standard language used to communicate with relational database management systems. It was developed in the early 1970s and standardized by 1986. SQL allows users to create, retrieve, update, and delete data from databases. The language consists of several key parts, including statements, keywords, identifiers, and clauses. SQL can perform various operations, such as querying data, filtering results, joining data from different tables, and executing code on hundreds of different databases that support SQL.