Advance your knowledge of SQL in this flexible online course. You will learn how to write, design, and test complex SQL queries.
When it comes to query language for relational database management systems, SQL is the industry benchmark. This hands-on course will help you advance your knowledge and keep pace with today's SQL standards. You will practice designing, writing, and testing complex SQL queries to execute on a practice database using SQL Server Express.
Requirements:
Hardware Requirements:
- This course must be taken on a PC. It is not suitable for Macs.
Software Requirements:
- PC: Windows 8 or later.
- Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox is preferred. Microsoft Edge is also compatible.
- Adobe Acrobat Reader.
- Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.
Other:
- Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.
Instructional Material Requirements:
The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.
- SQL Server Express
- SQL Server Management
Gain confidence using a wide range of advanced SQL techniques. This course will expand your SQL knowledge and provide skills for writing powerful queries that perform complicated searches and sorts of data.
SQL Review
In this introductory lesson, you will review SQL and database terms and concepts. You will also install SQL Server Express and SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) to use throughout the course in the learn-by-doing practices. And, you will use SQL code scripts to create a practice database in SQL Server.
Joining Multiple Tables
In this lesson, you will learn about join statements and how to join queries make it possible to retrieve data from more than one table. You'll also practice how to write well-designed join queries that retrieve result-sets that meet your requirements.
Filtering Rows
Databases can contain massive amounts of data. Learning how to filter the rows that will limit the result-set is extremely important. In this lesson, you will explore various ways to write SQL queries that retrieve a filtered result-set that meets defined criteria.
Grouping and Summarizing Rows
Because of the size of databases, it is important to design SQL queries that retrieve results-sets with data that is organized. In this lesson, you will practice designing queries that group similar data and summarize result-sets. You will explore aggregate functions and how they can be used in producing result-sets that can be used for data analysis.
Subqueries
Subqueries are SQL queries that are written inside another SQL query. Subqueries are used to perform intricate requirements on complex data subsets to retrieve specific data from the database. You will practice writing various subqueries using the practice database.
Tables and Data Maintenance
This lesson is about maintaining the database and data. You will practice using SQL code to modify and add table structures and add new data records. You will also learn about writing SQL queries to modify and delete tables structures and data. Understanding how to write queries to modify, add, and delete is important in order to maintain a database and data that are accurate and up to date.
Unions and Other Joins
Unions are used to retrieve data from more than one table. Instead of returning columns from different tables, a union SQL query combines rows for columns that are the same datatype. In this lesson, you will practice writing SQL queries that retrieve data from multiple tables with specific requirements.
Using String and Date Functions
SQL built-in functions are useful when applied in the right situations. In this lesson, you will work with string and date functions and write SQL queries to retrieve result-sets that manipulate and display data that may be easier to read and understand.
Stored Procedures
User-defined functions are called stored procedures. A stored procedure is a query that is written, saved, and ready to be reused whenever needed. In this lesson, you will practice defining, writing, saving, and executing stored procedures.
Indexes and Views
Indexes are important to database performance. Views are used to simplify access and to secure accessibility to the data. In this lesson, these concepts will be explored and examined as you practice defining and creating SQL queries.
Triggers
A trigger is a user-defined stored procedure that is used for maintaining the database. Once a trigger has been defined and is implemented in the database, it is automatically executed when applicable. In this lesson, you will practice defining, writing, and saving triggers.
SQL Server Management Studio
Understanding the database and its parts is a necessary component of learning SQL. It is difficult to develop and write efficient and well-designed queries without knowing the database and table structures. This last lesson presents SQL queries that retrieve database information. You will also explore the SSMS to make use of its functions as you continue your SQL journey.
What you will learn
- Learn how to write complex SQL queries to execute on a SQL Server database
- Design and write SQL queries to filter, group, and summarize complex data subsets to retrieve specific data
- Design and write SQL sub-queries and queries using functions, joins, and unions
- Explore the benefit of stored procedures as you practice writing SQL user-defined stored procedures and trigger queries
How you will benefit
- Expand your knowledge of SQL, the standard database query language
- Become more confident in your ability to understand and write SQL queries
- Open the door to new career opportunities as a SQL developer
Mava Wilson
Mava Wilson, Ph.D., is a professor with more than 28 years of teaching experience. While she specializes in Information Systems (IS), she has taught several computer science topics, including basic computer literacy, programming, database design, and SQL. She holds a Ph.D. and master's degree in computing technology from Nova Southeastern University, as well as a bachelor's in administrative systems from Radford University.
