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The Secret To Mastering SQL
If you ask any data analyst which language they use on a daily basis, they will not say Python or R. They will certainly say SQL.
SQL (Structured Query Language) is the standard language used by software developers, data analysts and database administrators to interact with databases. It has become an essential skill for anyone working in the modern world of data, as it allows us to extract valuable insights from vast amounts of data and store it reliably.
Most data analysts spend 50–60% of their time writing or improving SQL queries to extract data, compute key performance indicators or perform ad hoc analysis for the top management.
SQL is relatively easy to understand and learn. Its pervasiveness has a lot to do with the fact that SQL is useful to analyze relational databases.
To become a successful data analyst you will need to master SQL.
Here is a breakdown of what you need to do to become a SQL master.
Step 1: Find a tutorial online and learn the basic syntax of SQL
SQL is an incredibly useful language for managing databases, and it’s surprisingly easy to get the basics under your belt! There are countless online tutorials available that can take you step-by-step through the basic concepts of SQL. Pick one, dive right in, and before you know it, you’ll be solving complex database queries with ease. With a few hours of dedication and the open internet at your disposal — why not give it a try today?
I recommend the tutorial below from Programiz.
Here are some basic concepts in SQL that everyone should master:
Data types: Every column in a table has a data type, which determines the kind of value it can store (e.g. integer, string, date). It’s important to choose the right data type for each column to ensure that the data is stored and processed efficiently.
