SQL(Structured Query Language) Road Map for beginners

#sql #sqlserver #database #mysql

How can I learn SQL all over again if I were to start over? During your early days of learning you find yourself always in a dilemma of where to start learning SQL, What resources best suites your learning journey, What is the correct way to learn SQL and it seems like you are in a state of confusion, right?

This is a comprehensive guide for beginners trying to set foot in the data industry. SQL(Structured Query Language) is a programming language used for manipulating relational databases

1. Define database(s)

Define what a database is and the list out different types of databases(i.e relational and non relational databases)
Install and set up a database management system on your local machine

2. Basics of SQL

Define SQL and state features of SQL
What are the common Data Types mostly used in SQL
Understand basic syntax of SQL queries

3. Basic Commands in SQL

Select statement It is used to retrieve data from tables e.g

select name, age
from students

Sorting and filtering data Using order by to sort data, where to filter data based on a condition and limit clause to specify number of to be returned by a query
Aggregate functions Learn to use MAX, MIN, AVERAGE, COUNT, SUM
Group by and Having Clause
group data and understand how to filter grouped data

4. Data manipulation
Insert
add new records to a table
update
Modify existing records in a table
delete
remove records from a table in a database

5. Database design
relationships
understand how tables are related via primary and foreign keys, and the different types of relationships(i.e one to one, one to many)
Database normalisation
Define normalisation and the different types of normalisation

6. Advaced SQL Queries
Subqueries
Writing a query inside another query
Joins
Combining one or more rows of data from multiple tables using joins i.e(inner join, left join, right join, cross join)
Indexing
Define indexing and the importance of indexes

7. SQL functions and procedures
Functions
What are functions and the inbuilt SQL functions
Triggers and procedures
Define procedures and triggers, types of triggers and their applications

8. Practice writing SQL
Hands on practice
Login to chatgpt and ask chatgpt to produce dummy data to insert to your database
Lastly, ask chatgpt to formulate questions to practice writing your SQL queries
Join an online community
Join whatsapp, Linked in and SQL groups on social media.