You might want to keep in mind that SQL is a 4th generation language (4GL) while Perl is a 3GL.
1GL is machine code.
2GL is assembly language
3GL includes languages like (Perl, C++, Java, Cobol, PL/1, PL/SQL, Ada, etc.)
4GL's are designed to be more declarative. Example languages would be SQL and Prolog.
Control statements (if-else, for, while, switch) are characteristic of 3GL's. In 4GL the language decides the underlying program flow of control for you.
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