You can use punctuation to separate or identify the parts of an SQL statement.
| Punctuation Mark | Name | Function in Statement |
|---|---|---|
| . | Period | Separates database names from table names and table names from a particular column name (for example, personnel.employee.deptno). |
| , | Comma | Separates and distinguishes column names in the select list, or column names or parameters in an optional clause. |
| ' | Apostrophe | Delimits the boundaries of character string constants. To include an apostrophe in a title, double it. |
| ( ) |
Left and right parentheses | Groups expressions or defines the limits of a phrase. |
| ; | Semicolon | Separates statements in multistatement requests and terminates requests submitted by utilities, such as BTEQ. |
| " | Double quotation mark | Identifies user names that might otherwise conflict with SQL reserved words or that would not be valid names without double quotation marks. |
| : | Colon | Prefixes reference parameters or client system variables. |