What is a GQL Standard?

What is in a Graph Query Language Standard?

The current thought is that the GQL Standard will be two or three parts that include:

• Incorporate by reference specifications from SQL/Framework and SQL/Foundation (ISO/IEC JTC1 9075:2016 parts 1 & 2), including:

  • Some scalar data types

  • Operations, functions, and predicates for the scalar types

  • Transaction model (isolation level, COMMIT, ROLLBACK, etc.)

  • Security model

  • Client model and session model?

By referencing the existing specifications in the SQL standard, GQL eliminates the need to redo a lot of detailed foundational work.

• Capabilities needed by both SQL/PGQ (Property Graph Queries in SQL) and the GQL standard

  • Originally integrated into SQL/PGQ:2020

  • Split into a separate part as GQL project progresses, referenced by both GQL and SQL/PGQ

  • Graph Pattern Matching

  • Etc...

• GQL Specific Capabilities

  • Graph-only data types

    • Vertex

    • Edge

    • Path

  • Graph operations not included in SQL:/PGQ:2020

  • Graph analog of SQL/Schemata

Possible Timeline for a GQL Standard

The following is a speculative, optimistic timeline for the progression of a formal Graph Query Language Standard

• 2019-09 – 39075 Database Language GQL project approved - this is the start

• 2021-03 – CD Ballot starts

• 2021-06 – CD Ballot comment resolution

• 2021-09 – DIS (Draft International Standard) Ballot

• 2022-02 – Comment resolution

• 2022-05 – FDIS (Final DIS) Ballot

• 2022-08 – International Standard

This timeline depends on work that has not yet been done.