What is the function of a data control language in databases?

A data control language (DCL) plays a crucial role in managing user permissions and access to the data contained within a database. Its primary function is to grant or revoke access rights to users and roles, ensuring that data security and integrity are maintained. This enables database administrators to control who can view or manipulate specific data, which is essential for protecting sensitive information and complying with regulatory requirements.

While creating new tables relates to data definition language (DDL) and querying data pertains to data manipulation language (DML), the core purpose of DCL is distinctly focused on access control. Standardizing data formats is also outside the scope of DCL, as that task typically involves data modeling and schemas rather than access management. Thus, DCL is essential for establishing a secure environment within a database system by managing who can interact with the data.