# SQL

At the lowest level, CockroachDB is a distributed, strongly-consistent, transactional key-value store, but the external API is Standard SQL with extensions. This provides developers familiar relational concepts such as schemas, tables, columns, and indexes and the ability to structure, manipulate, and query data using well-established and time-proven tools and processes. Also, since CockroachDB supports the PostgreSQL wire protocol, it’s simple to get your application talking to Cockroach; just find your PostgreSQL language-specific driver and start building.

## See also

- SQL Feature Support
- Learn CockroachDB SQL
- Use the Built-In SQL Client
- SQL in CockroachDB: Mapping Table Data to Key-Value Storage
- Index Selection in CockroachDB