The notation used to display SQL statement and utility command syntax is simple, as indicated by the following table:
| Notation Element | Description |
|---|---|
| [ ] | The item within the square brackets is optional. |
| { } | The item within the curly braces is required. |
| [ … ] | The item within the square brackets can be repeated. |
| | | Exclusive OR. You can specify either the item to the right of | or the item to its left, but not both. |
Stacked optional items indicate alternatives. For example, the following fragment indicates that you can choose only one of x, y, or z:
[x] [y] [z]
Sequential optional items indicate independent options. For example, the following fragment indicates that you can choose x, y, z, x and y, x and z, y and z, or x, y, and z:
[x] [y] [z]