Query languages are specialized programming languages used to retrieve and manipulate data from databases. They allow users to ask questions about the data, such as finding specific records or updating information. The most common query language is SQL (Structured Query Language), which is widely used for managing relational databases. These languages provide a structured way to interact with data, making it easier for users to perform complex operations without needing to understand the underlying database structure. Other examples of query languages include SPARQL for querying RDF data and XQuery for XML data.