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If you’ve decided to tread the path of data manipulation and analysis, you’ve probably heard about SQL – the Structured Query Language. A standard tool in every data analyst’s toolkit, SQL can seem daunting at first. However, understanding its basics can unlock a world of data insights. In this blog post, we’ll take you on a journey from SQL basics to advanced concepts and we’ll recommend some top online courses to help you learn SQL in an in-depth manner. We’ll also inspire you with some SQL code examples!
1. SQL Basics: Your First Step into Data Magic
Most SQL journeys start with the basics – creating tables filled with data, fetching data from these tables, and executing basic operations on this data. A simple code to retrieve all data from a table is shown below.
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SELECT * FROM tableName |
Recommended Course: SQL for Data Analysis: Weekender Crash Course for Beginners
This Udemy course is an excellent start for SQL beginners. It uses simple, practical examples to teach core SQL commands used to obtain insights from data. With only a few hours over the weekend, you can learn how to analyze and manipulate data using SQL.
2. Moving Towards SQL Intermediate: JOINing the Real World
Once you’ve got a hang of the basic SQL queries, it’s time to combine data from multiple tables and sources. This is where the JOIN operations come to play.
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SELECT column1, column2 FROM table1 INNER JOIN table2 ON table1.matching_column = table2.matching_column |
Recommended Course: The Complete SQL Bootcamp 2022: Go from Zero to Hero
Another brilliant Udemy course that covers SQL JOINs and many other intermediate-level concepts. By the end of this course, you’ll have a good grasp of integrating data from multiple sources. The course uses PostgreSQL, but the SQL skills you’ll gain are transferable to any SQL flavor.
3. SQL Advanced: Unlock the True Power of Data
As your journey continues, you’ll encounter the true power of SQL in manipulating, transforming, and analyzing large, complex data sets. SQL’s advanced offerings like stored procedures, triggers, views, and indexing will help you streamline data retrieval.
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CREATE PROCEDURE SelectAllCustomers @City nvarchar(30) AS SELECT * FROM Customers WHERE City = @City |
Recommended Course: Coursera’s SQL for Data Science
This course from Coursera dives into advanced SQL topics. It’s focused more on the application of SQL in data science and covers topics like aggregating and reporting from complex data structures with SQL. With peer-reviewed assignments and projects, it’s a great way to solidify your SQL proficiency.
Conclusion
Whether you’re a beginner looking to make your first steps in SQL, an intermediate learner wanting to explore more possibilities, or an expert willing to sharpen your skills, these resources will help you progress in your SQL journey. Remember, learning SQL is not a sprint, but a marathon. Patience and consistent practice will make you proficient in using SQL for data analysis.