SQL Basics
1. What is SQL?
- SQL (Structured Query Language) is a standard language for managing and manipulating
relational databases.
2. Key Features of SQL:
- **Data Querying:** Retrieve data using SELECT statements.
- **Data Manipulation:** Insert, update, and delete records.
- **Data Definition:** Create, alter, and drop tables and other database objects.
- **Data Control:** Manage user access with GRANT and REVOKE.
3. Basic SQL Commands:
- **Data Query Language (DQL):**
SELECT column1, column2 FROM table_name WHERE condition;
- **Data Manipulation Language (DML):**
- INSERT INTO table_name (column1, column2) VALUES (value1, value2);
- UPDATE table_name SET column1 = value WHERE condition;
- DELETE FROM table_name WHERE condition;
- **Data Definition Language (DDL):**
- CREATE TABLE table_name (column1 datatype, column2 datatype);
- ALTER TABLE table_name ADD column_name datatype;
- DROP TABLE table_name;
4. SQL Clauses:
- **WHERE:** Filters records.
- **ORDER BY:** Sorts records.
- **GROUP BY:** Groups records based on column values.
- **HAVING:** Filters groups.
Example:
SELECT name, SUM(salary)
FROM employees
WHERE department = 'Sales'
GROUP BY name
HAVING SUM(salary) > 5000
ORDER BY SUM(salary) DESC;
5. SQL Joins:
- **INNER JOIN:** Retrieves records with matching values in both tables.
SELECT * FROM table1 INNER JOIN table2 ON table1.column = table2.column;
- **LEFT JOIN:** Retrieves all records from the left table and matching records from the right.
- **RIGHT JOIN:** Retrieves all records from the right table and matching records from the left.
- **FULL JOIN:** Retrieves all records when there is a match in either table.
6. SQL Functions:
- **Aggregate Functions:**
- COUNT(), SUM(), AVG(), MAX(), MIN()
- **String Functions:**
- CONCAT(), LENGTH(), LOWER(), UPPER(), SUBSTRING()
- **Date Functions:**
- NOW(), CURDATE(), YEAR(), MONTH(), DAY()
7. Constraints in SQL:
- **NOT NULL:** Ensures a column cannot have NULL values.
- **UNIQUE:** Ensures all values in a column are unique.
- **PRIMARY KEY:** Uniquely identifies a record in a table.
- **FOREIGN KEY:** Links two tables.
- **CHECK:** Ensures a condition is met for a column.
- **DEFAULT:** Provides a default value for a column.
8. Example Table Creation:
CREATE TABLE Employees (
ID INT PRIMARY KEY,
Name VARCHAR(50) NOT NULL,
Department VARCHAR(50),
Salary DECIMAL(10, 2) CHECK (Salary > 0)
);
9. Best Practices:
- Use meaningful table and column names.
- Normalize your database to reduce redundancy.
- Use proper indexing to improve query performance.
- Use transactions to maintain data integrity.
