SQL Tutorial

SQL stands for Structured Query Language. SQL is a standard programming language specifically designed for storing, retrieving, managing or manipulating the data inside a relational database management system (RDBMS). SQL became an ISO standard in 1987.

SQL is the most widely-implemented database language and supported by the popular relational database systems, like MySQL, SQL Server, and Oracle. However, some features of the SQL standard are implemented differently in different database systems.

SQL was originally developed at IBM in the early 1970s. Initially, it was called SEQUEL (Structured English Query Language) which was later changed to SQL (pronounced as S-Q-L).

Tip: Our SQL tutorial will help you to learn the fundamentals of the SQL language, from the basic to advanced topics step-by-step. If you're a beginner, start with the basic section and gradually move forward by learning a little bit every day.

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What You Can Do with SQL

There are a lot more things you can do with SQL:

• You can create a database.
• You can create tables in a database.
• You can query or request information from a database.
• You can insert records in a database.
• You can update or modify records in a database.
• You can delete records from the database.
• You can set permissions or access control within the database for data security.
• You can create views to avoid typing frequently used complex queries.

The list does not end here, you can perform many other database-related tasks with SQL. You will learn about all of them in detail in the upcoming chapters.

Note: Most of the relational database systems also have their own additional proprietary extensions in addition to the SQL standard that is available only on their system.

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What This Tutorial Covers

This SQL tutorial series covers all the fundamental concepts of SQL language, such as creating databases and tables, using constraints, adding records to a table, selecting records from a table based on different conditions, updating and deleting records in a table, and so on.

Once you're familiar with the basics, you'll move on to the next level that explains the methods of retrieving records through joining multiple tables, searching records in the table based on pattern, etc.

Finally, you'll explore some advanced concepts, such as modifying the existing table structure, performing aggregations and grouping data together, creating views to simplify and secure table access, creating indexes for tables, handling dates and times, cloning of an existing table, creating temporary tables, as well as, concept of SQL subqueries and SQL injection.

Tip: Every chapter in this tutorial contains lots of real-world examples that you can try and test using an online editor. These examples will help you to better understand the concept or topic. It also contains smart workarounds as well as useful tips and important notes.