Page 1 of 10
Home Whiteboard Online Compilers Practice Articles Jobs Tools
SQL HTML CSS Javascript Python Java C C++ PHP Scala C#
SQL Tutorial
SQL Tutorial
Our SQL tutorial helps you learn SQL (Structured Query Language) in simple and easy
steps so that you can start your database programming quickly. It covers most of the
important concepts related to SQL for a basic to advanced understanding of SQL and to
get a feel of how SQL works.
Chapters Query Language) is a programming language which is used
SQL (Structured Categories
to manage
data stored in relational databases like MySQL, MS Access, SQL Server, Oracle, Sybase,
Informix, Postgres etc.
SQL is a database computer language designed for the retrieval and management of
data in a relational databases like MySQL, MS Access, SQL Server, Oracle, Sybase,
Informix, Postgres etc. SQL stands for Structured Query Language. SQL was
developed in the 1970s by IBM Computer Scientists.
SQL is not a database management system, but it is a query language which
is used to store and retrieve the data from a database or in simple words SQL
is a language that communicates with databases.
SQL Examples
Consider we have following CUSTOMERS table which stores customer's ID, Name, Age,
Salary, City and Country −
ID Name Age Salary City Country
1 Ramesh 32 2000.00 Maryland USA
2 Mukesh 40 5000.00 New York USA
3 Sumit 45 4500.00 Muscat Oman
4 Kaushik 25 2500.00 Kolkata India
https://www.tutorialspoint.com/sql/index.htm 1/10
Page 2 of 10
5 Hardik 29 3500.00 Bhopal India
6 Komal 38 3500.00 Saharanpur India
7 Ayush 25 3500.00 Delhi India
SQL makes it easy to manipulate this data using simple DML (Data Manipulation
Language) Statements. For example, if we want to list down all the customers from USA
then following will be the SQL query.
SELECT * FROM CUSTOMERS WHERE country = 'USA';
This will produce the following result:
ID Name Age Salary City Country
1 Ramesh 32 2000.00 Maryland USA
2 Mukesh 40 5000.00 New York USA
SQL Online Editor
We have provided SQL Online Editor which helps you to Edit and Execute the SQL
code directly from your browser. Try to click the icon to run the following SQL code to
be executed on CUSTOMERS table and print the records matching with the given
condition.
Open Compiler
SELECT * FROM CUSTOMERS WHERE country = 'USA';
So now, you do not need to do a sophisticated setup to execute all the examples given in
this tutorial because we are providing you Online SQL Editor, which allows you to edit
your code and compile it online. You can try our Online SQL Editor.
SQL Basic Commands
We have a list of standard SQL commands to interact with relational databases, These
commands are CREATE, SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, DROP and TRUNCATE and
can be classified into the following groups based on their nature −
Data Definition Language (DDL)
https://www.tutorialspoint.com/sql/index.htm 2/10
Page 3 of 10
A Data Definition Language (DDL) is a computer language which is used to create and
modify the structure of database objects which include tables, views, schemas, and
indexes etc.
Command Description Demo
Creates a new table, a view of a table, or other object in the
CREATE Demo
database.
ALTER Modifies an existing database object, such as a table. Demo
Deletes an entire table, a view of a table or other objects in the
DROP Demo
database.
TRUNCATE Truncates the entire table in a go. Demo
Data Manipulation Language (DML)
A Data Manipulation Language (DML) is a computer programming language which is used
for adding, deleting, and modifying data in a database.
Command Description Demo
SELECT Retrieves certain records from one or more tables. Demo
INSERT Creates a record. Demo
UPDATE Modifies records. Demo
DELETE Deletes records. Demo
Data Control Language (DCL)
Data Control Language (DCL) is a computer programming language which is used to
control access to data stored in a database.
Command Description Demo
GRANT Gives a privilege to user Demo
REVOKE Takes back privileges granted from user. Demo
Why to Learn SQL?
SQL (Structured Query Language) is a MUST for the students and working professionals
to become a great Software Engineer specially when they are working in Software
https://www.tutorialspoint.com/sql/index.htm 3/10
Page 4 of 10
Development Domain. SQL is the most common language used almost in every
application software including banking, finance, education, security etc. to store and
manipulate data.
SQL is fairly easy to learn, so if you are starting to learn any programming language
then it is very much advised that you should also learn SQL and other Database related
concepts to become a complete Software Programmer. There are many good reasons
which makes SQL as the first choice of any programmer −
SQL is the standard language for any Relational Database System. All the Relational Data
Base Management Systems (RDBMS) like MySQL, MS Access, Oracle, Sybase, Informix,
Postgres and SQL Server use SQL as their standard database language.
Also, software industry is using different dialects of SQL, such as −
MS SQL Server using T-SQL,
Oracle using PL/SQL,
MS Access version of SQL is called JET SQL (native format) etc.
SQL Applications
SQL is one of the most widely used Query Language over the databases. SQL provides
following functionality to the database programmers −
Execute different database queries against a database.
Define the data in a database and manipulate that data.
Create data in a relational database management system.
Access data from the relational database management system.
Create and drop databases and tables.
Create and maintain database users.
Create view, stored procedure, functions in a database.
Set permissions on tables, procedures and views.
Who Should Learn SQL
This SQL tutorial will help both students as well as working professionals who want to
develop applications based on some databases like banking systems, support systems,
information systems, web websites, mobile apps or personal blogs etc. We recommend
reading this tutorial, in the sequence listed in the left side menu.
https://www.tutorialspoint.com/sql/index.htm 4/10
Page 5 of 10
Today, SQL is an essential language to learn for anyone involved in the software
applicatipon development process including Software Developers, Software Designers,
and Project Managers etc.
Prerequisites to Learn SQL
Though we have tried our best to present the SQL concepts in a simple and easy way,
still before you start learning SQL concepts given in this tutorial, it is assumed that you
are already aware about some basic concepts of computer science, what is a database,
especially the basics of RDBMS and associated concepts.
This tutorial will give you enough understanding on the various concepts of SQL along
with suitable examples so that you can start your Software Development journey
immediately after finishing this tutorial.
SQL Online Quizzes
This SQL tutorial helps you prepare for technical interviews and certification exams. We
have provided various quizzes and assignments to check your learning level. Given
quizzes have multiple choice type of questions and their answers with short explanation.
Following is a sample quiz, try to attempt any of the given answers:
Q 1 - The SQL programming language was developed by which of the
following:
A - Google in 1990s
B - Microsoft in 1980s
C - IBM in 1970s
D - None of the Above
Answer : C
Explanation
The SQL programming language was developed in the 1970s by IBM researchers
Raymond Boyce and Donald Chamberlin.
Start your online quiz Start SQL Quiz.
https://www.tutorialspoint.com/sql/index.htm 5/10
Page 6 of 10
SQL Jobs and Opportunities
SQL professionals are very much in high demand as the data turn out is increasing
exponentially. Almost every major company is recruiting IT professionals having good
experience with SQL.
Average annual salary for a SQL professional is around $150,000. Though it can vary
depending on the location. Following are the great companies who keep recruiting SQL
professionals like Database Administrator (DBA), Database Developer, Database Testers,
Data Scientist, ETL Developer, Database Migration Expert, Cloud Database Expert etc:
Google
Amazon
Netflix
Infosys
TCS
Tech Mahindra
Wipro
Pinterest
Uber
Trello
Many more...
So, you could be the next potential employee for any of these major companies. We have
developed a great learning material for SQL which will help you prepare for the technical
interviews and certification exams based on SQL. So, start learning SQL using our simple
and effective tutorial anywhere and anytime absolutely at your pace.
Frequently Asked Questions about SQL
There are some very Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ) about SQL, this section tries to
answer them briefly.
What are SQL skills?
SQL skills help software programmers and data experts maintain, create and retrieve
information from relational databases like MySQL, Oracle, MS SQL Server etc., which
store data into columns and rows. It also allows them to access, update, manipulate,
insert and modify data in efficient way.
A relational database stores information in tabular form, with rows and columns
representing different data attributes and the various relationships between the data
https://www.tutorialspoint.com/sql/index.htm 6/10
Page 7 of 10
values.
What are the 5 different types of SQL?
There are 5 main types of commands. DDL (Data Definition Language) commands, DML
(Data Manipulation Language) commands, and DCL (Data Control Language) commands,
Transaction Control Language(TCL) commands and Data Query Language(DQL)
commands.
How long should it take to learn SQL?
SQL is very easy to learn. You can learn SQL in as little as two to three weeks. However,
it can take months of practice before you feel comfortable using it. Determining how long
it takes to learn SQL also depends on how you plan to use it. Following this SQL tutorial
will give you enough confidence to work on any software development related to
database.
What are the benefits of using SQL over Excel?
SQL queries are also more flexible and powerful than Excel formulas and SQL is fast
which can handle large amount of data. Unlike Excel, SQL can handle well over one
million fields of data with ease.
How do I start learning SQL?
Here are the summarized list of tips which you can follow to start learning SQL.
First and the most important is to make your mind to learn SQL.
Install MySQL or MariaDB database on your computer system.
Follow our tutorial step by step starting from very begining.
Read more articles, watch online courses or buy a book on SQL to enhance your
knowledge in SQL.
Try to develop a small software using PHP or Python which makes use of
database.
What are the 4 basic commands in SQL?
Following are four basic SQL Operations or SQL Statements.
https://www.tutorialspoint.com/sql/index.htm 7/10
Page 8 of 10
SELECT statement selects data from database tables.
UPDATE statement updates existing data into database tables.
INSERT statement inserts new data into database tables.
DELETE statement deletes existing data from database tables.
What are data types in SQL?
Following are following three SQL data types.
String Data types.
Numeric Data types.
Date and time Data types.
Which is the best place to learn SQL?
You can use our simple and the best SQL tutorial to learn SQL. We have removed all the
unnecessary complexity while teaching you SQL concepts. You can start learning it now
Start Learning SQL.
TOP TUTORIALS
Python Tutorial
Java Tutorial
C++ Tutorial
C Programming Tutorial
C# Tutorial
PHP Tutorial
R Tutorial
HTML Tutorial
CSS Tutorial
JavaScript Tutorial
SQL Tutorial
TRENDING TECHNOLOGIES
https://www.tutorialspoint.com/sql/index.htm 8/10
Page 9 of 10
Cloud Computing Tutorial
Amazon Web Services Tutorial
Microsoft Azure Tutorial
Git Tutorial
Ethical Hacking Tutorial
Docker Tutorial
Kubernetes Tutorial
DSA Tutorial
Spring Boot Tutorial
SDLC Tutorial
Unix Tutorial
CERTIFICATIONS
Business Analytics Certification
Java & Spring Boot Advanced Certification
Data Science Advanced Certification
Cloud Computing And DevOps
Advanced Certification In Business Analytics
Artificial Intelligence And Machine Learning
DevOps Certification
Game Development Certification
Front-End Developer Certification
AWS Certification Training
Python Programming Certification
COMPILERS & EDITORS
Online Java Compiler
Online Python Compiler
Online Go Compiler
Online C Compiler
Online C++ Compiler
Online C# Compiler
Online PHP Compiler
Online MATLAB Compiler
Online Bash Terminal
Online SQL Compiler
https://www.tutorialspoint.com/sql/index.htm 9/10
