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If you're interested in pursuing a career in data, you probably know that Use data effectively to answer business questions. It is at the core of most data professions, regardless of what tools you use. By developing the right skill set, you can land a job as a data analyst and gradually explore other roles such as data scientist, BI analyst, and the like. So where should you start?
Should you learn a programming language like Python or R? Or should you dive head first into learning a BI tool like Tableau? Or is it SQL?
Well, SQL is THAT tool you need to know (and arguably the most important skill) across multiple data professions, from data analyst to data scientist to data engineer. That's why we've put together this list of beginner-friendly courses to learn the basics of SQL in just a few hours.
Introduction to SQL: Querying and Data Management It is a course that you can take for free on Khan Academy. You will learn how to query and manipulate data within relational database tables.
This course has several short lessons followed by challenges that test your understanding. The course is organized into sections as follows:
- He SQL Basics The section covers basic concepts such as creating tables and inserting data, querying data and aggregating it.
- He More advanced SQL queries The section covers logical operators, IN and LIKE operators, and HAVING.
- The section Relational queries in SQL focuses on using different types of joins to use data from multiple tables to answer questions.
- He Modifying Databases with SQL The section teaches you how to modify table schemas with SQL.
Link: Introduction to SQL: Querying and Data Management
If you prefer to learn with instructor-led video tutorials, then the SQL Tutorial: Complete Database Course for Beginners It's a good introduction to SQL.
In about 4.5 hours, you'll learn the fundamentals of database design and how to query databases with SQL. You will use MySQL, one of the most widely used relational database management systems (RDBMS).
First, you will explore database schema design and perform CRUD operations with SQL. You will then learn about aggregations, nested queries, joins, joins, functions, and triggers.
Link: SQL Tutorial: Complete Database Course for Beginners
He Introduction to SQL The course on Kaggle is also a good option if you prefer text-based tutorials followed by exercises.
In this introductory SQL course, you will learn how to query data sets with SQL using the BigQuery Python client. Topics covered include:
- SQL Fundamentals
- Filtration
- Aggregations
- Unions
- Write readable SQL queries
Link: Introduction to SQL
SQL Tutorial from W3Schools is another great resource for beginners to learn the basics of SQL commands and functions. The tutorial is organized into several short lessons, each focusing on a specific command or function. Then you will learn what commands are, how they work, followed by examples.
You can work through the examples in the online editor, without having to install anything in your local environment. This tutorial covers the basics of SQL, as well as the different logical operators, window functions, and much more. Additionally, this also covers modifying database tables, constraints, and more.
This tutorial is not only a learning resource but also a concise reference. So if you want to quickly look up the syntax and example usage of a particular function, this SQL tutorial is a reference you'll probably want to bookmark.
Link: SQL Tutorial
SQLZoo is another beginner friendly platform to learn and practice SQL. From basic SELECT statements to advanced concepts like window functions, SQLZoo offers bite-sized lessons with quick practice exercises on each.
Topics covered include:
- SELECT statement
- Added features
- Types of JOINTS
- Understanding NULLs
- Window functions
It also has a set of assessment questions with slightly more difficult SQL questions. What can you take to test yourself.
Link: SQLZoo
I hope you found this collection of free SQL courses useful. These courses have been designed to get you up to speed on SQL fundamentals in just a few hours.
If you're looking for free learning resources with a broader curriculum, here are a couple of summaries you might find helpful:
These courses also require more effort on your part and will typically take a few weeks to complete. So keep learning and practicing!
twitter.com/balawc27″ rel=”noopener”>Bala Priya C. is a developer and technical writer from India. He enjoys working at the intersection of mathematics, programming, data science, and content creation. His areas of interest and expertise include DevOps, data science, and natural language processing. He likes to read, write, code and drink coffee! Currently, he is working to learn and share his knowledge with the developer community by creating tutorials, how-to guides, opinion pieces, and more. Bala also creates engaging resource descriptions and coding tutorials.
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