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Technical Vocabularynoun · /ˌɛs.kjuː.ˈɛl ɪnˈdʒɛk.ʃən/

SQL injection

In simple English

SQL injection is one of the most common and dangerous web application security vulnerabilities. It occurs when user input is not properly validated or sanitized before being used in SQL queries. An attacker can exploit this by typing specially crafted SQL commands into form fields or URL parameters, which then get executed against the database server. In real tech workplaces, developers and security teams constantly test for SQL injection vulnerabilities, and it is a major focus during code reviews and security audits. Teams use prepared statements, parameterized queries, and input validation to prevent SQL injection attacks. When a SQL injection vulnerability is discovered, it is treated as a critical issue requiring immediate remediation, especially if the application handles sensitive data like user credentials or financial information.

Understand what SQL injection is, how it works, and how to prevent it in web applications.

At a glanceCEFR C1
Commonness5/5
Versatility4/5
FormalityCasualFormalNeutral
Spoken ↔ WrittenSpokenWrittenBoth
Directness ↔ DiplomaticDirectDiplomaticDirect
RegionUS and UK
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Say it like this

We need to protect against SQL injection attacks.
This code is vulnerable to SQL injection.
SQL injection is still one of the top security threats.

Real examples

in a standup

"Yesterday we found and patched a SQL injection vulnerability in the user registration endpoint."

in a code review

"This query is susceptible to SQL injection because you are concatenating user input directly into the SQL string."

in a team meeting

"We should prioritize SQL injection testing as part of our security assessment before the release."

Don't say this

Handle with care. Do not use as a verb (e.g., 'to SQL inject'). Use passive structures instead: 'to be vulnerable to SQL injection' or 'to suffer from SQL injection'.

We need to SQL inject the database to test security.
We need to test the application for SQL injection vulnerabilities.SQL injection is a noun describing the attack, not a verb you perform. You test for SQL injection or patch a SQL injection vulnerability.
The developer SQL injected the form.
The form is vulnerable to SQL injection.SQL injection is something that happens to an application, not something a developer intentionally does in normal operations.
This is a SQL injection code.
This code is vulnerable to SQL injection.You do not write SQL injection code; rather, code can be vulnerable to or exploited by SQL injection attacks.

Other forms

noun

SQL injection

"SQL injection remains a critical security risk in web development."

adjective (attributive)

SQL injection attack

"The server was compromised by a sophisticated SQL injection attack."

adjective (predicative)

vulnerable to SQL injection

"The legacy application is vulnerable to SQL injection."

Often used with

SQL injection vulnerabilityThe specific weakness in code that allows SQL injection to occur
SQL injection attackThe malicious action performed by an attacker exploiting the vulnerability
protect against SQL injectionTo implement security measures to prevent SQL injection
vulnerable to SQL injectionDescribing code or an application that could be exploited
prevent SQL injectionTo stop SQL injection attacks from succeeding
SQL injection testingSecurity testing to identify SQL injection vulnerabilities

Similar words

database injectionMore general term; SQL injection is specific to SQL databases
code injectionBroader category that includes SQL injection and other types of injections

Opposites

parameterized queryprepared statementinput validationsecure code

Practice

Try it

4 quick exercises

Pick the most natural phrasing

1. Your security team found a bug in the login page. What do you say in the standup?

Complete the sentence

2. This code is _______ SQL injection because it concatenates user input directly into SQL queries.

Spot the mistake

3. Which sentence uses SQL injection incorrectly?

Rewrite naturally

4. Rewrite this using 'SQL injection' naturally: 'We found that attackers can put bad code into the search box to hack the database.'

Questions

Quick poll

Have you said "sql injection" in a standup this week?

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