ISO/IEC 9075-2:2016 defines the data structures and basic operations on SQL-data. It provides functional capabilities for creating, accessing, maintaining, controlling, and protecting SQL-data.

ISO/IEC 9075-2:2016 specifies the syntax and semantics of a database language:

- For specifying and modifying the structure and the integrity constraints of SQL-data.

- For declaring and invoking operations on SQL-data and cursors.

- For declaring database language procedures.

- For embedding SQL-statements in a compilation unit that is otherwise written in a particular programming language (host language).

- For deriving an equivalent compilation unit in the host language. In that equivalent compilation unit, each which invoke an SQL externally-invoked procedure that, when executed, has an effect equivalent to exe-cuting the SQL-statement.

- For direct invocation of SQL-statements.

- To support dynamic preparation and execution of SQL-statements.

ISO/IEC 9075-2:2016 provides a vehicle for portability of data definitions and compilation units between SQL-implementations.

ISO/IEC 9075-2:2016 provides a vehicle for interconnection of SQL-implementations.

Implementations of this ISO/IEC 9075-2:2016 can exist in environments that also support application program-ming languages, end-user query languages, report generator systems, data dictionary systems, program library systems, and distributed communication systems, as well as various tools for database design, data administration, and performance optimization.