Explanation:

A query is a request made to a database to retrieve information in a specific format or manner. It is a command that is used to communicate with a database management system (DBMS) to retrieve or manipulate data. A query can be used to search for specific data, extract information from multiple tables, perform calculations, and more.

Components of a Query:

A query typically consists of the following components:

1. Select Statement: The select statement is used to specify the columns or fields that you want to retrieve from the database.

2. From Clause: The from clause is used to specify the table or tables from which you want to retrieve the data.

3. Where Clause: The where clause is used to specify the conditions that the data must meet in order to be included in the result set. It is used to filter the data based on specific criteria.

4. Group By Clause: The group by clause is used to group the data based on one or more columns. It is often used in conjunction with aggregate functions like sum, count, average, etc.

5. Order By Clause: The order by clause is used to sort the data in the result set based on one or more columns. It can be used to sort the data in ascending or descending order.

Example:

For example, let's say we have a database table called "Students" with columns like "Name", "Age", and "Grade". If we want to retrieve the names and ages of all students who are in Grade 10, we can write a query like this:

SELECT Name, Age
FROM Students
WHERE Grade = 10;

This query will retrieve the names and ages of all students who are in Grade 10 from the "Students" table.

Conclusion:

In summary, a query is a request made to a database to obtain information in the desired way. It allows users to retrieve and manipulate data from a database by specifying the desired columns, tables, conditions, and sorting criteria. Queries are essential in database management systems as they provide a way to access and analyze data efficiently.