Welcome to the UnQL Specification home
UnQL means Unstructured Query Language. It's an open query language for JSON, semi-structured and document databases.
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Quotes
“One of the main arguments in our recent CACM article on coSQL was the industry needs a common query language and data model to feed the ecosystem for key-value stores. The UnQL language presents an important practical next step in this process. We are looking forward to working with Couchbase and other industry leaders in the NoSQL space on taking the design to the next level.”
Erik Meijer, Partner Architect, Microsoft
“One of the primary use cases for non-relational databases is the storage and retrieval of unstructured information. What’s been lacking has been a standardized interface to this data, an unstructured equivalent to SQL. UnQL aims to address precisely this problem.”
Stephen O’Grady, Principal Analyst, RedMonk
“Relational database technology – and the SQL query language – have served us very well for over forty years, but modern applications require far more flexibility at the data layer than those of generations past. UnQL builds upon our experience with SQL, supplementing that language with syntax and concepts appropriate for the unstructured, self-describing data formats of post-modern applications.”
D. Richard Hipp, inventor of SQLite
“The work we’ve done on UnQL has been very gratifying. UnQL stems from our belief that a common query language is necessary to drive NoSQL adoption in the same way SQL drove adoption in the relational database market. I look forward to continuing my work alongside SQLite to push this new language forward.”
Damien Katz, Couchbase CTO and creator of CouchDB