For an instructor lead, in-depth look at learning SQL click below.
Structured Query Language (SQL), the ubiquitous language utilized for interacting with databases, is a vital skill for any data professional. In this tutorial, we will delve deeper into SQL, focusing primarily on Databricks, an industry-leading, cloud-based data engineering tool.
What is SQL?
SQL is a programming language that is uniquely designed to manage and manipulate relational databases. It allows you to create, alter, and delete tables, as well as select, insert, update, and delete data from existing tables.
What is Databricks?
Databricks is a platform that combines the capabilities of data engineering and data science. Built on Apache Spark, it provides a unified platform that boosts team collaboration and increases innovation rates. It also offers an interactive workspace where engineers and scientists can use SQL languages.
SQL Basics
Let’s dig a bit deeper into SQL with a simple example.
html
|
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 |
CREATE TABLE Employees ( ID INT PRIMARY KEY, NAME VARCHAR(20), POSITION VARCHAR(20) ); |
This will create a table named ‘Employees’ with columns ‘ID’, ‘NAME’, and ‘POSITION’. Let’s populate this table with some data.
html
|
1 2 3 4 5 6 |
INSERT INTO Employees (ID, NAME, POSITION) VALUES (1, 'John Doe', 'Developer'), (2, 'Jane Doe', 'Analyst'), (3, 'Mary Johnson', 'Tester'); |
With this, we’ve added three rows of data to the table. Now, to retrieve data from the table, we would use the SELECT statement.
html
|
1 2 3 |
SELECT * FROM Employees; |
This command will show you all data from the ‘Employees’ table. Likewise, you can manipulate the data as you wish with the UPDATE and DELETE commands.
Databricks SQL
The SQL language in Databricks is almost similar to standard SQL with a few additional, powerful functionalities. On Databricks, SQL statements can be written in notebooks which is just like Jupyter notebooks but with more advanced features.
In Conclusion
Mastering SQL is a must for anyone planning a career in data. With persistent practice, SQL can become second nature. In Databricks, you benefit from a powerful tool that allows collaborative, seamless work. Embrace Databricks and ameliorate your SQL skills!