Operations — how data is queried, observed, governed

Query

5 open standards for Query in a modern data architecture, each with an opinionated judgement: Adopt, Situational, Assess, or Caution.

Start with SQL.

Adopt 1 standard

The standard to reach for in new work. Proven, multi-vendor, clearly the default for its slot.

  • SQL — Structured Query Language

    The universal data query language; not a decision.

    ANSI / ISO/IEC 9075

Situational 3 standards

The right answer in some contexts but not others. Pick deliberately based on the constraint.

  • Substrait

    Cross-engine query-plan IR — pick when you're building or integrating engines that need a portable plan format; end users rarely touch it.

    Substrait Project (independent; ASF-inspired PMC)

  • SPARQL — SPARQL Protocol and RDF Query Language

    Query RDF; right when your data lives in triples.

    W3C

  • GQL — Graph Query Language

    Vendor-neutral property-graph query language — pick when your stack is already on graph databases.

    ISO/IEC 39075:2024

Caution 1 standard

We'd avoid it for new work — superseded or fading, but still encountered in existing systems.

  • MDX — Multidimensional Expressions

    Multidimensional query language; surviving only in MS Analysis Services.

    Originally Microsoft (1997); referenced by the XMLA specification

More in Operations

Operations covers how data is queried, observed, governed.

See Query in context

These standards are one panel of the interactive Data Landscape, which maps every open standard a modern data architecture is built on. The underlying data is a single JSON file; disagree with a judgement? Open an issue.