Accessing Database without using SQL
You can also use your favorite hex editor :). This can even be a good learning lesson to see how things work under the hood. For example, you could have a look at those posts/videos:


How does sql server store data by Brent Ozar;
Corrupting Databases for Dummies- Hex Editor Edition by Kendra Little.


But using a high level language like SQL or your vendors implementation (tsql, pl/sql...) makes things so much easier.