# Writing SurrealQL

Ways of executing SurrealQL queries such as SurrealDB Studio, CLI, HTTP, SDKs, and GraphQL.

[SurrealQL](/docs/reference/query-language.md) is the query language for SurrealDB. How they reach the database depends on your tool or integration. The sections below describe each path in more detail.

## SurrealQL execution paths

The following four approaches are the most commonly used ways to execute SurrealQL queries directly or indirectly via SDKs in one of many programming languages.

| Approach | Typical use |
| -------- | ----------- |
| [SurrealDB Studio](/docs/learn/querying/surrealql/executing-queries/via-studio.md) | Interactive editing, Sandbox, and visual results in the browser. |
| [CLI](/docs/learn/querying/surrealql/executing-queries/via-cli.md) | Local development, scripts, and [`surreal sql`](/docs/reference/cli/surrealdb-cli/commands/sql.md) against a running server. |
| [HTTP](/docs/learn/querying/surrealql/executing-queries/via-http.md) | Services and integrations that call the [`/sql`](/docs/reference/rest-api/http-protocol.md#sql) endpoint. |
| [SDKs](/docs/learn/querying/surrealql/executing-queries/via-sdks.md) | Application code using the official clients (WebSocket or HTTP under the hood, depending on SDK and configuration). |

In SurrealDB Studio, the built-in Sandbox does not persist data. To keep experimental work, use **Deploy to Cloud** in the app to create a free SurrealDB Cloud instance.

For a single entry point into these guides, see **[Executing queries](/docs/learn/querying/surrealql/executing-queries.md)**.

Interactive clients (including the SDKs) usually speak to the database over **WebSocket** or **HTTP**. The [RPC protocol](/docs/reference/rest-api/rpc-protocol.md) describes how queries and responses are framed on the wire.

Language syntax, statements, and functions are documented in the **[SurrealQL reference](/docs/reference/query-language.md)**.

## GraphQL

[GraphQL](/docs/learn/querying/graphql/overview.md) is a separate query interface on top of SurrealDB: you describe fields and shapes in GraphQL, not in SurrealQL. You can use it from [SurrealDB Studio](/docs/learn/querying/graphql/via-studio.md), over [HTTP](/docs/learn/querying/graphql/via-http.md), or from tools such as Postman or Bruno.