Abstract The database language standard, SQL, adopted by both ANSI and ISO, is now well established as a language for developing database applications. The SQL standard has been evolving ever since its first adoption in 1986, with new revisions being announced every three years. The latest revision (SQL-92) has just been announced by both ANSI and ISO. Currently, work is underway on the next revision, SQL3, which is expected in 1995–1996 timeframe. A major focus of SQL3 effort is to incorporate an object-oriented type system while maintaining strict upward compatibility with SQL-92. The type system of SQL3 is based on concepts such as abstract data types, object identity, polymorphism, subtypes-supertypes, parameterized types, dynamic binding, etc. In this paper, we report on the current status of SQL3 type system.