SQL 101, SQL for beginners

5 min read · Feb 21, 2023

Structured Query Language (SQL) is a programming language designed to manage and manipulate data stored in relational databases. SQL is one of the most widely used languages in the world, and it’s essential for anyone who wants to work with data, whether they’re a data analyst, data scientist, software engineer, or database administrator.

In this article, we’ll cover the basics of SQL, including its syntax, structure, and common use cases.

What is SQL?

As mentioned earlier, SQL is a programming language used to manage and manipulate data stored in relational databases. A relational database is a collection of tables that are linked by common fields, such as a primary key or foreign key. These tables can be used to store, retrieve, and modify data.

SQL was first developed by IBM in the 1970s as a way to interact with databases. Since then, SQL has evolved into a standardized language that is used by virtually all relational database management systems (RDBMS).

Why learn SQL?

There are several reasons why learning SQL is important, including:

Data is everywhere: With the explosion of data in the digital age, knowing how to manipulate and analyze data is a valuable skill that can open up many career opportunities.
Relational databases are widely used: Most businesses and organizations use relational databases to store and manage their data, which means that SQL is a critical skill for anyone working with data.
Versatility: SQL is a versatile language that can be used for a wide range of applications, from simple queries to complex data analysis.
Standardization: SQL is a standardized language, which means that once you learn it, you can apply your knowledge to any RDBMS.

SQL syntax

SQL syntax is relatively simple and easy to learn. The basic structure of a SQL query is as follows:

SELECT column_name(s)
FROM table_name
WHERE condition;

Let’s break down each component of this query:

SELECT is used to select one or more columns from a table.
FROM is used to specify the table(s) from which to select the data.
WHERE is used to filter the data based on a specific condition.

Here’s an example query:

SELECT first_name, last_name
FROM employees
WHERE department = 'Marketing';

This query selects the first_name and last_name columns from the employees table, but only where the department column is equal to 'Marketing'.

SQL data types

SQL supports several data types that can be used to store different types of data. Here are some of the most common data types:

INTEGER: Used to store whole numbers.
FLOAT/DOUBLE: Used to store decimal numbers.
CHAR/VARCHAR: Used to store strings of characters.
DATE/TIME/DATETIME: Used to store date and time values.
BOOLEAN: Used to store true/false values.

SQL functions

SQL functions are used to perform calculations or manipulate data in some way. Here are some of the most common SQL functions:

COUNT: Used to count the number of rows in a table.
SUM: Used to calculate the sum of values in a column.
AVG: Used to calculate the average value of values in a column.
MIN/MAX: Used to find the smallest/largest value in a column.
UPPER/LOWER: Used to convert text to uppercase/lowercase.

Here’s an example query that uses some of these functions:

SELECT COUNT(*), SUM(sales), AVG(sales), MIN(sales), MAX(sales)
FROM sales_data
WHERE date >= '2022

SQL operators

SQL operators are used to perform logical and mathematical operations on data. Here are some of the most common SQL operators:

=: Used to check if two values are equal.
<>/!=: Used to check if two values are not equal.
</>/<=/>=: Used to compare values.
AND/OR: Used to combine multiple conditions.
LIKE: Used to match patterns in strings.

Here’s an example query that uses some of these operators:

SELECT *
FROM employees
WHERE salary >= 50000 AND department LIKE '%Sales%';

This query selects all columns from the employees table, but only where the salary column is greater than or equal to 50000 and the department column contains the string Sales.

SQL clauses

SQL clauses are used to modify the behavior of SQL statements. Here are some of the most common SQL clauses:

ORDER BY: Used to sort the result set by one or more columns.
GROUP BY: Used to group the result set by one or more columns.
HAVING: Used to filter the result set based on a condition that involves an aggregate function.
LIMIT: Used to limit the number of rows returned by the query.

Here’s an example query that uses some of these clauses:

SELECT department, AVG(salary) AS avg_salary
FROM employees
GROUP BY department
HAVING AVG(salary) > 50000
ORDER BY avg_salary DESC
LIMIT 10;

This query selects the department column and the average salary for each department from the employees table. It then groups the result set by department and filters it to only include departments with an average salary greater than 50000. Finally, it sorts the result set by avg_salary in descending order and limits it to the top 10 results.

SQL joins

SQL joins are used to combine data from two or more tables based on a common field. There are several types of joins, including:

INNER JOIN: Returns only the rows that have matching values in both tables.
LEFT JOIN: Returns all rows from the left table and the matching rows from the right table. If there is no match in the right table, the result will contain NULL values.
RIGHT JOIN: Returns all rows from the right table and the matching rows from the left table. If there is no match in the left table, the result will contain NULL values.
FULL OUTER JOIN: Returns all rows from both tables. If there is no match in one of the tables, the result will contain NULL values.

Here’s an example query that uses an inner join:

SELECT customers.customer_name, orders.order_date
FROM customers
INNER JOIN orders
ON customers.customer_id = orders.customer_id;

This query selects the customer_name column from the customers table and the order_date column from the orders table. It then joins the two tables on the customer_id column and only returns rows where there is a match in both tables.

SQL best practices

To write effective SQL queries, it’s important to follow best practices. Here are some tips:

Use meaningful names for tables and columns.
Use comments to explain complex queries.
Use whitespace and indentation to make queries easier to read.
Avoid using SELECT *, as it can slow down queries and make them harder to maintain.
Use parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection attacks.
Test queries on a small subset of data before running them on the entire database.

Conclusion

SQL is a powerful and versatile language. It is a fundamental language for managing relational databases. It allows users to store, manipulate, and retrieve data with ease. With its simple syntax, SQL is accessible for beginners while offering advanced features for experienced users. By understanding the basic concepts, operators, clauses, and joins, beginners can write effective SQL queries to retrieve the data they need. Following best practices like using meaningful names, adding comments, and testing queries on a small dataset can help ensure the efficiency and security of SQL queries. Overall, learning SQL is a valuable skill for anyone who works with data, and with practice, beginners can quickly become proficient in using this essential language.