Is Select a DML or DDL?

Question

I was going through DML SQL statement. Select as they say is a SQL data statement and these are also called as DML.

most of the articles explain it with below eg: If select is used as below then it is classified as DML

Select COl1, COl2 
into Table2 #this -- part will create a table named
                  -- as table2 with column col1 and col2
from Table1;      -- 3 columns will be copied from table1 to table2

1) Can somebody Please explain what is exactly happening in the query

Select COL1, Col2
into TABLE2
from TABLE1;

2) How is this a DML statement?

3) Is there is any difference between SQL data statement and DML or both are same ? http://www.firstsql.com/tutor1.htm

Answer 1

1. Inserting data that is selected from TABLE1 to TABLE 2
2. It is data manipulation
3. From the look of it they are the same

EDIT: To answer the question title as well, SELECT is not a DDL (Data definition language). DDL statements modify database layout, like CREATE TABLE . DML statements are queries data, like SELECT ; or modifies data, like INSERT .

Another edit: It seems SELECT INTO is not fully supported in mysql. Even though answer is still valid for general SQL. For me, SELECT INTO 's table creation aspect is a side effect. thus it is still a DML.

Answer 2

I think you can correctly view it as a hybrid that accomplishes both data manipulation (selecting and inserting) and definition (table creation). I don't think you'll find SELECT...INTO in the standard language which is one reason you probably can't apply a strict distinction between DML and DDL here.