Introduction to SQL (Self-Guided)

Lesson 1

Introduction to Database Design and SQL

In this introductory lesson, you will examine database terms and concepts. Understanding the purpose of a database and collecting data is foundational to using SQL to write queries and retrieve data result-sets that are usable.

SQL Server

In this lesson, you will install SQL Server Express and the SQL Server Management Studio to use throughout the course in your learn-by-doing practices. You will use a SQL code script to create one of the tables for the practice database in SQL Server.

Retrieving Data Result-Sets

SQL queries are the statements used to retrieve data from the database. Queries are written in a specific, logical order. In this lesson, you will explore various ways to write SQL queries to retrieve data that meets a defined criteria.

Sorting Data

SQL queries are defined and written to retrieve data in a certain order. Queries are also written to limit columns and to filter data rows. In this lesson, you will explore and practice defining and writing queries to meet a defined criteria to retrieve the expected result-set.

Designing SQL Data Tables

This lesson is about designing SQL data tables for a database. You will explore the relationship concept and how it is used in a RDBMS. You will define tables that are structured according to RDBMS standards. You will also create the tables to add to your practice database.

Designing Data Rows

In this lesson, you will add data to your newly defined tables. You will explore several methods of adding data to a table, and you will also practice writing and executing these query statements. After adding several individual rows to the tables, you will use a SQL code script to populate your tables with enough data rows to use in the learn-by-doing practices in this course.

Getting Data From Two Tables

SQL JOIN statements are used to retrieve data from more than one table. In this lesson, you will practice writing JOIN query statements that are defined to retrieve data result-sets from tables that have a relationship between their PKs and FKs.

Retrieving Data From Multiple Tables

In this lesson, you will continue writing JOIN statement that retrieve data result-sets from more than one table. You will also examine how and when to use SQL subquery statements to retrieve data from multiple tables. You will practice defining and writing JOIN and subquery queries.

Keeping the Database Up to Date

The quality of the data in the database depends on its integrity, including the concepts of data accuracy and consistency. In this lesson, you will explore writing queries to maintain the database so that it is up to date with data that is accurate, consistent, and has integrity.

Aggregate Functions

In this lesson, you will examine the concept of aggregate functions and how they are used in query statements to examine multiple rows. Aggregate functions are a method of retrieving summarized data that is useful for analysis.

SQL Views

SQL views are an important concept in database design and in using databases. In this lesson, you will explore designing and writing queries to create views. You will also explore the reason they are valuable for database security and database access.

Maximize Database Integrity and Performance

Constraints are one way to maximize the integrity of the database and minimize the opportunity for user error. Indexes are used for increasing the performance of a data query. In this lesson, you will explore both these concepts.