SQL was created in the 1970s by IBM as part of the System R project to store, manipulate, and retrieve data from relational databases. DDL is used to define and modify database structure using commands like CREATE, ALTER, and DROP. DML allows users to interact with data using SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE commands. DCL controls database access and security with GRANT and REVOKE. TCL manages transactions with COMMIT, ROLLBACK, and SAVE TRANSACTION.