Tag rename [ansi-sql-standard] to [sql-standard]

Question

The standard, though originally ANSI isn't really ANSI anymore. In fact, I imagine far more people develop it from the ISO/IEC outside of ANSI.

ANSI calls it ISO/IEC 9075-4:2016, and the ISO/IEC make no mention of even ANSI involvement

Regardless, ansi isn't really relevant.

If that's too vague and you're afraid of people accidentally tagging things with it, you can always go with iso-9075 and make ansi-sql-standard redirect to it, or even iso-sql-standard.

Answer 1

sql-standard seems to be more general.

I suggest we make both ansi-sql-standard and iso-sql-standard synonyms to sql-standard. ANSI and ISO have both been associated with the standard and I've seen used both the terms "ANSI SQL" and "ISO SQL" (and "ANSI/ISO SQL"), and still being used.

status-completed

Answer 2

ANSI References in 2018

There are still strong references to the "ANSI" standard as can be seen in the following excerpt from a page in the Oracle 12c documentation:

_{(Emphasis by me)}

ANSI Standards

The following documents of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) relate to SQL:

• ANSI/ISO/IEC 9075-1:2011, Information technology—Database languages—SQL—Part 1: Framework (SQL/Framework)

• ANSI/ISO/IEC 9075-2:2011, Information technology—Database languages—SQL—Part 2: Foundation (SQL/Foundation)

• INCITS/ISO/IEC 9075-3:2008, Information technology—Database languages—SQL—Part 3: Call-Level Interface (SQL/CLI)

• ANSI/ISO/IEC 9075-4:2011, Information technology—Database languages—SQL—Part 4: Persistent Stored Modules (SQL/PSM)

• INCITS/ISO/IEC 9075-9:2008, Information technology—Database languages—SQL—Part 9: Management of External Data (SQL/MED)

• INCITS/ISO/IEC 9075-10:2008, Information technology—Database languages—SQL—Part 10: Object Language Bindings (SQL/OLB)

• ANSI/ISO/IEC 9075-11:2011, Information technology—Database languages—SQL—Part 11: Information and Definition Schemas (SQL/Schemata)

• INCITS/ISO/IEC 9075-13:2008, Information technology—Database languages—SQL—Part 13: SQL Routines and Types using the Java Programming Language (SQL/JRT)

• ANSI/ISO/IEC 9075-14:2011, Information technology—Database languages—SQL—Part 14: XML-Related Specifications (SQL/XML)

These standards are identical to the corresponding ISO standards listed in the next section.

Also, in 2012, ANSI adopted this part, which is not an ISO standard:

• INCITS 500:2012, Information technology—Database languages—SQL—Part 14: Row Pattern Recognition (SQL/RPR)

You can obtain a copy of ANSI standards from this address:

American National Standards Institute 25 West 43rd Street, fourth floor New York, NY 10036 USA Telephone: +1.212.642.4900 Fax: +1.212.398.0023 Web site: http://www.ansi.org/

Reference Database SQL Language Reference (Oracle Docs)

It seems like ANSI, INCITS and ISO/IEC are all contributing to the sql-standard.

But what do these institutions do?

ANSI

_{(Emphasis mine)}

As the voice of the U.S. standards and conformity assessment system, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) empowers its members and constituents to strengthen the U.S. marketplace position in the global economy while helping to assure the safety and health of consumers and the protection of the environment.

The Institute oversees the creation, promulgation and use of thousands of norms and guidelines that directly impact businesses in nearly every sector: from acoustical devices to construction equipment, from dairy and livestock production to energy distribution, and many more. ANSI is also actively engaged in accreditation - assessing the competence of organizations determining conformance to standards.

Reference: About ANSI (ansi.org)

INCITS

_{(Emphasis mine)}

INCITS -- the InterNational Committee for Information Technology Standards -- is the central U.S. forum dedicated to creating technology standards for the next generation of innovation. INCITS members combine their expertise to create the building blocks for globally transformative technologies. From cloud computing to communications, from transportation to health care technologies, INCITS is the place where innovation begins.

Reference: Where IT all begins (incits.org)

ISO/IEC

_{(Emphasis mine)}

ISO is an independent, non-governmental international (standardisation) organization with a membership of 161 [national standards bodies].

Through its members, it brings together experts to share knowledge and develop voluntary, consensus-based, market relevant International Standards that support innovation and provide solutions to global challenges.

Reference: About ISO (iso.org)

The reference linke to the 161 bodies of ISO links to an overview of all the participating bodies which can be found here:

Reference: ISO: a global network of national standards bodies (iso.org)

When clicking on the link for ANSI you are referred to the following tidbit of information:

_{(Emphasis mine)}

Since it was founded in 1918, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has coordinated the development of voluntary consensus standards in the United States and has represented the needs and views of U.S. stakeholders in standardization forums around the globe. ANSI is the U.S. member body to ISO and, via its U.S. National Committee, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). ANSI is also a member of the International Accreditation Forum (IAF).

ANSI does not write standards; rather, the Institute accredits standards developers that will establish consensus among qualified groups. Its guiding principles " consensus, due process and openness " are followed by the 220 distinct entities currently accredited to develop and maintain nearly 10 000 American National Standards (ANS). Though all ANS are developed as voluntary documents, U.S. federal, state, or local bodies are increasingly referring to ANS for regulatory or procurement purposes. Many ANS are also national adoptions of globally relevant international standards.

Reference: ANSI - United States (iso.org)

Summary

• ANSI itself does not define or create standards, but rather accredits existing standards.
• ISO itself groups standards, based on member's recommendations.
• INCITS seems to be the only board that creates standards!

My vote

I vote to have a sql-standard and all other tags be modified to be synonyms of sql-standard.

Currently these would be:

• ansi-sql-standard
• iso-sql-standard

Answer 3

My only reservation with renaming to sql-standard is that it might be added by users asking about SQL Server Standard Edition.