Introduction to SQL

By Jon Flanders
The vast majority of applications that use data, are backed by a good relational database system. This course will help to establish a base to those who want to begin learning Structured Query Language (SQL).
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Course info
Rating
(3453)
Level
Beginner
Updated
Dec 20, 2017
Duration
3h 1m
Table of contents
Course Overview
Course Overview 2m
Introduction
Introduction 4m The Relational Model 7m Summary 0m
Understanding Basic SQL Syntax
Introduction 3m Basic SQL Commands - SELECT 1m Basic SQL Commands - INSERT 2m Basic SQL Commands - UPDATE 2m Basic SQL Commands - DELETE 2m Course Housekeeping 3m Summary 0m
Querying Data with the SELECT Statement
Introduction 4m Demo - SELECT 2m The SELECT List 2m SELECT List Wildcard (*) 2m The FROM Clause 5m Demo - FROM Clause 4m How to Constrain the Result Set 1m DISTINCT and NOT DISTINCT 3m Demo - Distinct 2m Summary 0m
Filtering Results with the WHERE Clause
The WHERE Clause 4m Demo - WHERE Clause 1m Boolean Operators 2m The AND Keyword 2m Demo - AND 2m The OR Keyword 1m Demo - OR 2m Other Boolean Operators 0m BETWEEN 2m Demo - BETWEEN 2m LIKE 2m Demo - LIKE 3m IN 1m Demo - IN 2m IS 2m IS NOT 1m Demo - IS AND IS NOT 6m Summary 1m
Shaping Results with ORDER BY and GROUP BY
Introduction 1m ORDER BY 2m Demo - ORDER BY 1m Set Functions 4m Demo - Set Functions 5m Set Function And Qualifiers 2m Demo - Set Function And Qualifiers 1m GROUP BY 3m Demo - GROUP BY 2m HAVING 2m Demo - HAVING 3m Summary 1m
Matching Different Data Tables with JOINs
Introduction 1m CROSS JOIN 1m Demo - CROSS JOIN 2m INNER JOIN 2m Demo - INNER JOIN 2m OUTER JOINs 1m LEFT OUTER JOIN 1m Demo - LEFT OUTER JOIN 1m RIGHT OUTER JOIN 1m Demo - RIGHT OUTER JOIN 2m FULL OUTER JOIN 1m Demo - FULL OUTER JOIN 2m SELF JOIN 1m Summary 0m
Adding, Changing, and Removing Data
Introduction 2m INSERT 2m Demo - INSERT 5m BULK INSERT 2m Demo - BULK INSERT 1m UPDATE 2m Demo - UPDATE 3m DELETE 2m Demo - DELETE 2m Summary 0m
Creating Database Tables
Introduction 1m CREATE DATABASE 2m Demo - CREATE DATABASE 1m CREATE TABLE 3m Demo - CREATE TABLE 3m NULL Values 4m PRIMARY KEY 2m CONSTRAINT 2m ALTER TABLE 2m DROP TABLE 1m Demo - CREATE TABLE 6m Summary 1m
Description
Course info
Rating
(3453)
Level
Beginner
Updated
Dec 20, 2017
Duration
3h 1m
Description

Structured Query Language (SQL) is a special purpose language for interacting with relational databases.

In this course, Introduction to SQL (Update), you will learn the basics of Structured Query Language.

First, you will learn how to query data and shape results.
Next, you will focus on creating and modifying data in your tables.
Finally, you will touch on how actually modify the tables themselves.

By the end of this course, you'll understand the basics of how to create and use a relational database.

Course FAQ
Course FAQ
Is SQL easy to learn?

SQL is relatively easy to learn. It's a query language, not a programming language, and it is English-like, so it's fairly easy to understand and write SQL query. Most database engines are compatible with all SQL code.

Is SQL harder than Python?

Opinions will probably vary here. As a whole language, SQL is definitely simpler than Python. The syntax is intuitive, there is less grammar, and there are fewer different concepts to learn. But as a comprehensive tool, SQL may actually be more difficult than Python coding.

Is SQL a programming language?

While it has the functionality of a mature programming language, SQL is not considered a "programming" language. SQL stands for Structured Query Language. It is a language that allows us to query, insert, update, and modify data in relational databases.

Are there prerequisites to this course?

This is a beginner level SQL tutorial, so no prior SQL experience is required. But it would help to be somewhat familiar with the basic concepts of computer programming.

What concepts will I learn in this course?

You will learn:

  • Basic SQL syntax
  • How to query data with the SELECT statement
  • How to filter results with the WHERE clause
  • How to shape results with ORDER BY and GROUP BY
  • How to match different data tables with JOINs
  • How to add, change, and remove data
  • How to create database tables
Who should take this course?

This course is for anyone who is interested in data science and learning how to manipulate data. If you work with large sets of data on a regular basis, SQL can greatly improve your understanding of that data, and greatly improve efficiencies.

What is a relational database?

A relational database is just what it sounds like: it is multiple sets of data with a well-defined relationship between the tables in those sets of data. Relational databases allow tables to commnicate and share information across these multiple data sets, which helps with data searchability and organization.

About the author
Jon Flanders
About the author

Although Jon spent the first few years of his professional life as an attorney, he quickly found chasing bits more interesting than chasing ambulances. Since 2011, Jon has been concentrating on the mobile world. Working mainly in iOS, Jon has helped numerous companies create and transform mobile teams into teams that can create, build, test, and deploy mobile applications with ease.

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Section Introduction Transcripts
Section Introduction Transcripts

Course Overview
Hi everyone. My name is Jon Flanders, and welcome to my course, Introduction to SQL. I'm a developer with over 20 years of experience using relational databases. And despite the fact that topics like big data and NoSQL databases get all the press these days, the vast majority of applications that use data, which, by the way, are the vast majority of applications, are backed by a good old‑fashioned relational database system with this program using Structured Query Language, also known as SQL. This course will provide you with the basics that you need to know to get started using SQL. No prior SQL experience is required. Some of the major topics that we will cover include querying data using the select statement, shaping your results using the where clause, creating and modifying data in your tables, as well as creating and modifying those tables themselves. By the end of this course, you'll know the basics of how to create and use a relational database. Before beginning the course, you really only need to be familiar with the basic concepts of computer programming. I hope you'll join me here at Pluralsight to learn SQL, with the Introduction to SQL course.

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