ISO IEC 9075-16-2023 PDF

Full title and description

St ISO IEC 9075-16-2023 — Information technology — Database languages SQL — Part 16: Property Graph Queries (SQL/PGQ). This international standard defines SQL language extensions and semantics to represent, query and manage property graphs as first-class objects integrated with SQL (commonly referred to as SQL/PGQ).

Abstract

ISO/IEC 9075-16:2023 (SQL/PGQ) adds a property-graph query facility to the ISO/IEC SQL family. It specifies the graph data model (vertices, edges, labels and properties), syntax and semantics for graph definition and graph pattern matching, integration points with relational SQL (operators that expose graph results as tables), metadata views, security behaviour and conformance rules. The goal is to allow SQL users and systems to create, query and combine graph-style queries with conventional SQL without moving data out of the relational environment.

General information

• Status: Published
• Publication date: June 1, 2023
• Publisher: ISO/IEC (ISO and IEC joint standard)
• ICS / categories: 35.060 (Database management)
• Edition / version: Edition 1 (version 1.0)
• Number of pages: 269

Scope

The standard defines language elements, grammar, semantics and conformance requirements for querying property graphs from within SQL. It covers how property graphs are declared and referenced in SQL schemas, graph pattern matching and path expressions, mechanisms to return graph matches as relational/tabular results, graph-related functions and predicates, graph metadata views, access control behavior for graph objects, diagnostics and optional/implementation-defined items. It is intended to make graph querying a native, standardized capability of SQL systems while preserving compatibility with existing SQL parts.

Key topics and requirements

• Property graph model: vertices, edges, labels, properties and allowed SQL data types for properties.
• Graph definition and management: statements and clauses to CREATE, ALTER and DROP property graphs and to declare vertex/edge table mappings.
• Pattern-matching syntax: MATCH-style graph patterns, element and path patterns, binding of variables to vertices/edges and label/property predicates.
• GRAPH_TABLE and integration: operators that execute graph pattern queries and expose results as relational tables usable in FROM, JOIN and other SQL constructs.
• Path handling: path expressions, path variables, path functions and modes for path search (including common path-search behaviours and path-length semantics).
• Functions and predicates: property accessors, path/element inspection functions and graph-specific predicates.
• Metadata and information schema extensions: schema views/tables to list property graphs, labels, element tables and properties.
• Security and privileges: GRANT/REVOKE semantics and graph-specific privilege considerations integrated with SQL security model.
• Conformance, diagnostics and optional features: required conformance points, implementation-defined options and diagnostic/status codes.

Typical use and users

Implementers of database engines and vendors adding graph capabilities to SQL products; database architects and designers who want to expose relational data as property graphs without ETL; application developers and data engineers who combine relational queries, JSON and graph pattern queries; analytics teams that need path and pattern analytics together with SQL-based reporting; and tool vendors building SQL tools, ORMs and visual graph explorers that target standards-compliant SQL/PGQ implementations.

Related standards

ISO/IEC 9075 (SQL) series — other parts of SQL:2023 and earlier editions (notably Parts 1–15). Related parts and deliverables of interest include SQL/Foundation, SQL/Framework, SQL/JSON extensions (JSON data type and SQL/JSON features introduced in SQL:2023), SQL/MDA (multidimensional arrays) and the SQL conformance and information-schema parts. Implementers also commonly refer to ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 32 work items and technical corrigenda addressing SQL:2023 updates.

Keywords

SQL/PGQ, Property Graph Queries, property graph, graph pattern matching, GRAPH_TABLE, SQL:2023, ISO/IEC 9075-16, graph schema, vertex, edge, labels, properties, graph metadata, SQL extensions.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO/IEC 9075-16:2023 is Part 16 of the ISO/IEC SQL standard family; it standardizes SQL extensions for property graph queries (known as SQL/PGQ), letting SQL systems represent and query property graphs alongside relational objects.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers the property graph data model, syntax and semantics for defining graphs, pattern-matching queries and path expressions, functions/predicates for graph processing, how graph query results integrate with SQL (e.g., via GRAPH_TABLE), metadata views, security behaviour and conformance requirements.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Database engine implementers, product teams adding graph features to SQL databases, SQL developers and data engineers who want to run graph-style queries without moving data, and analytics or tooling vendors that target standards-compliant graph querying capabilities.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The standard was published on June 1, 2023 and is the current Part 16 (Edition 1) of ISO/IEC 9075 as of that publication. Like most ISO standards it is subject to periodic review (typically every five years) and may receive corrigenda or revisions over time.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes — it is part of the ISO/IEC 9075 series (the SQL standard family). Part 16 complements the other parts of SQL and was added in the SQL:2023 edition to provide standardized property-graph support.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Property graph, SQL/PGQ, graph pattern matching, GRAPH_TABLE, vertices, edges, labels, properties, SQL:2023, ISO/IEC 9075-16.