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SQL Fundamentals: Comprehensive Data Manipulation and Management
In this lab, you'll dive into advanced SQL techniques, focusing on complex JOIN operations and subqueries. Learn how to use table aliases, self-joins, cross-joins, and perform nested subqueries to efficiently query relational databases. By the end, you’ll have a solid understanding of how to retrieve and manipulate data using advanced SQL queries.

Path Info
Table of Contents
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Challenge
Complex Data Manipulation
SQL Guide
For each task, replace or update the existing SQL code in the top pane (
main.sql
) with your answer to the task and run it to see the results in the bottom pane (SQL Viewer).Step 1: Complex Data Manipulation
To review the concepts covered in this step, please refer to the module Subqueries and Sets in the course Introduction to SQL.
🔑 Pre-requisites
Before starting this lab, you should have completed the following foundational labs or have equivalent knowledge of SQL:
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Introduction to Databases: Understand how to create and manage databases and tables. SQL Fundamentals: Introduction to Databases and Table Structures lab
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Primary and Foreign Keys: Be familiar with defining primary and foreign key relationships between tables. SQL Fundamentals: Working with Primary and Foreign Keys lab
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Basic Data Manipulation: Know how to insert new records, update existing data, and delete records from a table using
INSERT
,UPDATE
, andDELETE
statements. SQL Fundamentals: Naming Conventions and Data Manipulation Techniques lab -
Complex Joins and Aggregate Functions: Understand how to join multiple tables and use aggregate functions to group and summarize data. SQL Fundamentals: Advanced Table Management lab
If you are unfamiliar with any of these concepts, we recommend completing the labs mentioned above before starting this comprehensive lab.
In this step, you will practice writing complex queries that update, delete, and insert data based on specific conditions, often requiring subqueries. These operations are common in real-world database management, where multiple tables are related and queries must target specific data subsets.
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Challenge
Data Management Using DML, DDL, and DCL
Step 2: Advanced Data Management Using DML, DDL, and DCL
In this step, you will explore the core SQL commands that allow you to manage the structure and data within a database. You’ll learn the differences between Data Manipulation Language (DML), Data Definition Language (DDL), and Data Control Language (DCL), and how each one plays a critical role in database management. You will also practice applying constraints, managing relationships, and controlling access to the database. This step is vital for understanding the foundational management capabilities of SQL beyond just data retrieval.
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Challenge
Data Manipulation and Integrity
Step 3: Advanced Data Manipulation and Integrity
In this step, you will apply advanced SQL techniques to manipulate data while ensuring integrity through the use of transactions and indexes. You’ll learn how to combine different SQL operations to manage complex datasets effectively, optimize queries for performance, and safeguard data consistency when performing multiple operations. This step will deepen your understanding of how to handle real-world data scenarios involving multiple tables, large datasets, and performance considerations. You'll finish this step with the ability to manage data updates, deletions, and retrievals while maintaining optimal database performance.
What's a lab?
Hands-on Labs are real environments created by industry experts to help you learn. These environments help you gain knowledge and experience, practice without compromising your system, test without risk, destroy without fear, and let you learn from your mistakes. Hands-on Labs: practice your skills before delivering in the real world.
Provided environment for hands-on practice
We will provide the credentials and environment necessary for you to practice right within your browser.
Guided walkthrough
Follow along with the author’s guided walkthrough and build something new in your provided environment!
Did you know?
On average, you retain 75% more of your learning if you get time for practice.