SQL2011

SQL2011, formally ISO/IEC 9075:2011, is an international standard for the SQL relational database language. Published in 2011 by ISO/IEC, it represents an update to the SQL standard family and aims to harmonize behavior across database management systems while addressing evolving data-management needs. Like previous editions, it defines core language syntax and semantics for querying, updating, and managing data, as well as the related data types, operators, and routines.

A principal addition in SQL2011 is native support for temporal data management. It introduces support for system-versioned and application-time (temporal) tables to track historical states of data, enabling time-based queries and point-in-time analysis. The standard defines a PERIOD data type and related syntax to represent time intervals, along with clauses such as FOR SYSTEM_TIME to access historical data. These features are designed to improve auditing, compliance, and analyses that require data versioning over time.

In addition to temporal features, SQL2011 along with its multi-part structure covers enhancements to data types, XML processing, and general interoperability improvements. As with other SQL standards, it specifies core language constructs (data definition and manipulation language, queries) plus optional features and conformance criteria that database vendors may implement.

Adoption varies by vendor and product version; some systems provide partial or full support for SQL2011 features, while others implement only a subset or maintain legacy behavior for compatibility. The standard serves as a reference point for portability and consistency across relational database platforms.