Q.Which of the following is a DML command in SQL ? (A) UPDATE (B) CREATE (C) ALTER (D) DROP
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Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →DML (Data Manipulation Language) commands handle data inside tables — UPDATE is the only DML command here; CREATE, ALTER, and DROP are DDL (Data Definition Language) commands that deal with the structure of the database itself.
The key to this question is understanding the four categories of SQL commands: DDL, DML, DCL, and TCL. Most exam questions test whether you can tell apart DDL (structure-changing) from DML (data-changing).
DDL (Data Definition Language) commands define or modify the schema — the structure of tables, databases, indexes, etc. They include CREATE, ALTER, DROP, TRUNCATE, RENAME. These commands auto-commit and cannot be rolled back in most databases.
DML (Data Manipulation Language) commands work on the data inside existing tables — inserting, updating, deleting, or retrieving rows. The classic DML commands are SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE. Some exams also include MERGE (upsert) and CALL (for procedures) as DML, but the core four are what matter here.
A very common mistake: students think SELECT is not DML because it doesn't "change" data. But in standard SQL, SELECT is classified as DML — it manipulates (retrieves) data. However, for this question, SELECT isn't even an option, so the confusion doesn't arise.
Now let's check each option:
- Option (A): UPDATE — This modifies existing rows in a table. It changes data values, not the table structure. This is a classic DML command. ✓ …
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