Db2 for i SQL reference

This topic defines the Db2® for SQL language elements for Db2 for IBM® i.

About SQL reference
This book defines Structured Query Language (SQL) as supported by Db2 for IBM i. It contains reference information for the tasks of system administration, database administration, application programming, and operation. This manual includes syntax, usage notes, keywords, and examples for each of the SQL statements used on the system.
PDF file for SQL reference
Use this to view and print a PDF of this information.
What's new for IBM i 7.4
This topic highlights the changes made to this topic collection for IBM i 7.4.
Concepts
This chapter provides a high-level view of concepts that are important to understand when using Structured Query Language (SQL). The reference material contained in the rest of this manual provides a more detailed view.
Language elements
This section defines the basic syntax of SQL and language elements that are common to many SQL statements.
Built-in global variables
This chapter contains semantic descriptions, rules, and examples of the use of the built-in global variables.
Built-in functions
This chapter contains syntax diagrams, semantic descriptions, rules, and examples of the use of the built-in functions listed in the following tables.
Procedures
This chapter contains syntax diagrams, semantic descriptions, rules, and examples of the use of the system supplied procedures.
Queries
A query specifies a result table or an intermediate result table. A query is a component of certain SQL statements.
Statements
This section contains syntax diagrams, semantic descriptions, rules, and examples of the use of the SQL statements.
SQL procedural language (SQL PL)
SQL can be used as a structured programming language to write the routine body for SQL functions, SQL procedures, SQL triggers, and compound (dynamic) statements. This is known as the SQL procedural language, also referred to as SQL PL.
SQL limits
The following tables describe certain SQL and database limits imposed by the Db2 for i database manager.
Characteristics of SQL statements
This appendix contains information on the characteristics of SQL statements pertaining to the various places where they are used.
SQLCA (SQL communication area)
An SQLCA is a set of variables that may be updated at the end of the execution of every SQL statement. A program that contains executable SQL statements may provide one, but no more than one SQLCA (unless a stand-alone SQLCODE or a stand-alone SQLSTATE variable is used instead), except in Java™, where the SQLCA is not applicable.
SQLDA (SQL descriptor area)
An SQLDA is a set of variables that is used for execution of the SQL DESCRIBE statement, and it may optionally be used by the PREPARE, OPEN, CALL, FETCH, and EXECUTE statements.
CCSID values
The tables in this section describe the CCSIDs and conversions provided by the IBM relational database products.
Db2 for i catalog views
The views contained in a Db2 for i catalog are described in this section.
Text search argument syntax
A text search argument is specified when searching for terms in text documents. It consists of search parameters and one or more search terms. The SQL scalar text search functions that use text search arguments are CONTAINS and SCORE.
Terminology differences
Some terminology used in the ANSI and ISO standards differs from the terminology used in this book and other product books.
Reserved schema names and reserved words
This topic describes the restrictions of certain names used by the database manager. In some cases, names are reserved and cannot be used by application programs. In other cases, certain names are not recommended for use by application programs though not prevented by the database manager.
Related information
The publications listed here provide additional information about topics described or referred to in this guide.