SQL, or Structured Query Language, is a standard language for managing relational databases, developed by IBM in the late 1970s, with major standards including SQL-86, SQL-92, and SQL-99. It consists of Data Definition Language (DDL) for defining database schemas and Data Manipulation Language (DML) for querying and updating data, including commands to create, alter, and drop tables along with enforcing integrity constraints such as primary keys and foreign keys. The document outlines various SQL domain types, the syntax for creating tables, and the importance of constraints in maintaining data integrity.