SQL:2003 has finally achieved final publication as an International Standard, replacing SQL:1999. SQL:2003 is popularly believed to be largely a “bugfix release” of the SQL standard — except, of course, for the SQL/XML work on which we have previously reported. However, as you will learn from this and future columns, there are many compelling new features in the 2003 edition of the SQL standard. We are pleased that three of the more active SQL proposal writers have joined forces to present several of those new features in this month’s column. Krishna Kulkarni is, among other responsibilities, the formal International Representative for the INCITS H2 Technical Committee for Database. Jan-Eike Michels is a frequent USA representative to the corresponding international group, ISO/IEC JTC1/SC32/WG3. Fred Zemke is widely acknowledged as a principle expert in many areas of the SQL standard and also a regular USA representative to WG3. In the coming months, we will provide information about even more of SQL:2003’s new features.