Relational databases can be managed and manipulated using the programming language SQL, which means Structured Query Language. Users can insert data into a database, update it, and retrieve it. Some basic SQL commands include SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, CREATE, ALTER, and DROP. A user must connect to a database using MySQL, SQL Server, or Oracle to access and alter the database.
Data warehousing, data analysis, and business intelligence are just a few of the technologies and applications that use SQL. So, if you want to learn this programming language, you must enroll in a course to prepare for the SQL certification.
Look at all the free courses you can train with to get the SQL certification.
The importance of SQL
SQL has evolved significantly since its introduction more than 30 years ago, and it continues to do so to keep up with new demands. SQL is used a lot by data analysts and developers because it is flexible and works well with other languages.
For instance, when working with popular SQL database management systems like Oracle or Microsoft SQL Server, users may write Java code that embeds SQL queries to create high-performance data processing applications. Moreover, because it uses everyday English terminology in its statements, SQL is also quite simple to pick up.
Benefits of using SQL
It is not only user-friendly and utterly accessible on various platforms. Let us highlight some other benefits that can help you become an expert in query languages.
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No coding skills required
Coding is tough to learn and requires a lot of practice and skills. But SQL is not a complex programming language; a little free online training will teach you how to give basic commands like create, insert, and delete.
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Interactive Language
Once you understand SQL completely, it is highly interactive. Adopting it in a business environment is intended to make communications clear and productive so there are no misunderstandings or miscommunications.
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Queries are processed quickly
SQL can quickly and efficiently retrieve large amounts of data. Thus, it allows you to be productive in other departments needing attention and provides accurate data.
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Standardised Language
It mainly uses easy English terminology and sentence structure. This makes it a highly accessible language as English is an elementary language to read and write, almost like it’s a universally accepted language.
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Portability
SQL is portable, which means it can be used on laptops, servers, and PCs. In addition, it is compatible with intranets and local internet. Finally, since it can be easily moved from one device to another, it’s a practical choice for users.
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Availability
The majority of popular database management systems use SQL. This includes the industry-standard IBM DB2, Oracle, and Microsoft SQL Server. The fact that anybody can access SQL is a major plus.
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Open Source Code
SQL databases may be accessed using open-source solutions like MySQL, MariaDB, and Postgres SQL.
Top SQL courses to prepare for the certification
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Introduction To SQL By Simplilearn
The Simplilearn SQL free course helps you develop a functional understanding of the top programming language for relational database management systems. You are taught important subjects like MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQL Server, as well as built-in SQL functions.
Highlights of the Simplilearn course:
- Learn SQL right from the installation process
- Get a certificate after completing the course
- Study at your own pace for free
- Have 90-day access to the course material once you enroll
- Train with industry experts and get hands-on experience with projects
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Learn SQL With Codecademy
A free interactive SQL course from Codecademy teaches the fundamentals of the language and how to use it to connect with databases. Beginners and those with little to no prior knowledge of SQL are the target audience for the course. You will learn to read and write SQL statements, database data extraction, and data analysis for decision-making.
Highlights of the Codecademy course:
- The course contains practical coding challenges
- Covers a wide range of SQL topics, including SELECT statements, filtering and sorting data, joining tables, and creating and modifying tables
- Highly interactive and hands-on
- Includes quizzes to test your knowledge
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Intro To SQL: Querying And Managing Data By Khan Academy
With Khan Academy, learn how to store, query, and alter data using SQL. Numerous apps and organizations utilize SQL, a special-purpose programming language created for managing data in a relational database.
Highlights of the Khan Academy course:
- The course includes video lessons that are easy to understand
- Available for free and can be taken at your own pace
- Learn to create tables and insert data
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SQL Tutorial By W3Schools
This website, W3Schools, offers free online web development tutorials, including one on SQL. The W3Schools SQL lesson is made to assist new users in learning the fundamentals of SQL and how to use it to interact with databases.
Highlights of the W3Schools tutorial:
- The tutorial includes clear explanations and examples of SQL concepts and commands
- Includes interactive models that allow you to try out SQL commands and see the results in real-time
- You can track your progress through the tutorial
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Learn SQL Basics For Data Science Specialization With Coursera
An online learning platform called Coursera provides a range of SQL-related courses from prestigious universities and industry experts. Additionally, from the variety of courses that Coursera offers, some are free, and others are paid. This course covers the basics of SQL, so it is free to enroll in.
Highlights of the Coursera specialization:
- Many of the courses are taught by leading industry experts and university professors who have extensive experience with SQL and databases
- The courses include hands-on projects and exercises
- Courses can be taken at your own pace
- Includes a certification option
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Introduction To SQL By SQLBolt
To help you learn SQL, free SQLBolt offers interactive tutorials, exercises, tests, and forums. It is a free resource for learning SQL and was created with novices unfamiliar with SQL and databases in mind. The tutorials begin by exposing you to the various components of a SQL query, so it’s easier to understand for beginners.
Highlights of the SQLBolt course:
- SQLBolt has a forum where you can ask questions, share knowledge and connect with other SQL learners
- It follows an interactive way of learning
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SQL For Data Analysis By Udacity
This course will teach you how to extract and analyze data from databases using the structured query language. The first thing you’ll learn is how to extract data, join tables, and run aggregations. Then you’ll discover how to use subqueries, temp tables, and window functions to perform complex analyses and manipulations.
Highlights of the Udacity course:
- The course is designed to teach you how to use SQL to extract and analyze data for data analytics and business intelligence tasks
- It covers everything you need to learn about SQL in detail over 4 weeks
- You must know how to work with data in spreadsheets before joining this course
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Intro To SQL By Kaggle
The free interactive SQL course from Kaggle is great for beginners. Kaggle is a platform for data science competitions, tutorials, and community, and it also does a great job at teaching the fundamentals of SQL.
Highlights of the Kaggle course:
- The course is designed to be highly interactive and hands-on, so you’ll learn by doing rather than just reading or watching videos
- Learn how to use BigQuery and SQL to manage large datasets
- Improve the insights you get from your SQL queries
Conclusion
Everything you need to know about SQL has been covered in this article. Now you know that it is a language for processing information. Its original purpose was to manage structured data, but nowadays, even non-relational databases (known as NoSQL databases) often use SQL to access information. In addition, many Big Data systems already use SQL extensions.