SQL:2008

SQL:2008 is the sixth revision of the ISO and ANSI standard for the SQL database query language. It was formally adopted in July 2008. The standard consists of 9 parts which are described in detail in SQL. The next iteration is SQL:2011

New features
Additions to the Foundation include
 * enhanced MERGE and DIAGNOSTIC statements,
 * the TRUNCATE TABLE statement,
 * comma-separated WHEN clauses in a CASE expression,
 * INSTEAD OF database triggers,
 * partitioned JOIN tables,
 * support for various XQuery regular expression/pattern-matching features, and
 * enhancements to derived column names.

Documentation
The SQL standards documentation is not freely available but may be purchased from the ISO as ISO/IEC 9075(1-4,9-11,13,14):2008.

Claims of conformance
The minimum level of conformance to SQL:2008 that a product can claim is called "Core SQL:2008" and is limited to definitions specified in two parts of the standard: the Foundation and the Information and Definition Schemas.