What is SQL? A Beginner’s Guide to the SQL Language

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There’s a lot of buzz in the tech world about data–but of course, raw data isn’t very useful on its own. That’s where the SQL language (also called Sequel coding language) comes in.

What do you use SQL for? The short version is that Sequel code is incredibly useful when it comes to working with data. Of course, there’s a lot more to the specific uses of SQL. And that’s what this SQL guide is for!

When you’re learning about any programming language, there are a ton of initial questions. How does SQL work? Is SQL a backend language, scripting language, or some other kind of coding language? What can you do with SQL? Is SQL easy to learn?

In this guest post, Anastasia Stefanuk explains what SQL is, the basics involved in SQL programming, how to use SQL, which industries commonly use Sequel language, common SQL database systems, and how to start learning SQL language yourself. 

Here’s Anastasia with her beginner’s guide to SQL.

Data

These days, almost all businesses, from small online stores to Fortune 500 corporations, use data to run their operations. They manage this data using databases.

Because of this, the demand for database administration experts has exploded, and because of this demand, working as a database developer, particularly an SQL developer, can be very lucrative.

In this article, we’ll look at what SQL is and why you might want to learn SQL for beginners (and eventually gain SQL proficiency!).

Let’s get started with SQL 101.

Disclosure: I’m a proud affiliate for some of the resources mentioned in this article. If you buy a product through my links on this page, I may get a small commission for referring you. Thanks!

What Is SQL?

Data is a core part of many web applications and mobile apps. For example, an application like Facebook holds a user’s profile information, including data about their friends and posts.

Holding this data requires a database system. SQL is a programming language that enables programmers to work with that data. 

SQL Meaning: What Does SQL Stand For?

SQL stands for Structured Query Language.

Essentially, it’s a language that allows communication with databases in order to manage all the data they contain.

The SQL meaning—Structured Query Language—comes from how SQL works. SQL uses a structured approach to work with databases and query data within them.

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How to Pronounce SQL

🗣️ SQL is usually pronounced like the word “sequel”. ” which is why you’ll also see people calling it Sequel code.

However, it’s a matter of preference (like gif vs. jif)—some people pronounce it in acronym form as all three letters, like “ess-queu-el”.

Is SQL a Programming Language?

Yes, SQL is a programming language. It offers looping, logic directives, variables, and so on.

However, it’s not a language in the same sense as, say, Java or C++. SQL is considered a fourth-generation language (4GL), whereas Java and C++ are third-generation languages (3GLs).

So, what type of coding language is it? Is SQL a backend language? Front-end language? Or is SQL a scripting language?

Well—none of the above! SQL is pretty unique as far as coding languages go.

Instead of being a programming language for building websites, apps, or software, SQL is a query language that enables storing, retrieving, and manipulating data in databases.

History of SQL Language

Sequel language was first developed in the early 1970s by IBM researchers Raymond Boyce and Donald Chamberlin.

It was initially called SEQUEL coding language (Structured English Query Language) and was designed to manipulate and retrieve data in IBM’s database management system, System R

In the late 70s, Relational Software, Inc. (now Oracle) was inspired to create their own version and introduced the first commercially available implementation of SQL language.

By 1986, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) had adopted a standard definition of SQL.

There have been improvements and new features added since then with the introduction of new SQL “standards” which is the same as version. Between 1986 and 2023, there have been 10 total SQL standards as improvements have been made to the language.

How to Use SQL 

While an application might be programmed in a language like Python, PHP or Ruby, databases are not configured to understand these.

Historically, databases understand only Sequel code (though this has changed significantly in recent years). Because of this, learning SQL is almost a must if you intend to work in web development or app development.

Like other programming languages, SQL coding language has its own markup. This makes it necessary for a programmer to learn SQL markup before they can use it effectively. 

Besides markup, another feature unique to database programming is the concept of tables. A database may be represented as a number of tables. Each table has its own number of columns and rows and represents a set of data.

📚 Imagine a library. We could create a database that stores data about books in the library.

Library

In this case, we would need only one table: 

Facebook

This table would allow us to store all the information we need.

SQL Language Elements

How does SQL work on a structural level? SQL code is made up of statements that start with a keyword or command, e.g. CREATE, and end with a semicolon. 

Other SQL examples of language elements include:

  • Keywords: Words that are used to perform various operations in a database, such as ADD, JOIN, VIEW, etc. Here’s a list of SQL keywords.
  • Identifiers: The names of objects in the database, such as tables, views, indexes, columns, etc.
  • Expressions: A symbol or string of symbols that perform mathematical operations on data.
  • Search conditions: Used to select a subset of the rows from a table. Also allows you to create IF statements to specify whether a condition is true or false in a certain row or group of rows.
  • Data types: As the name suggests, the type of data that will be stored inside each column when creating a table. Examples include number, string, date and time, etc.
  • Nulls: Use a Null to specify that value that is unknown or missing.
  • Comments: Explains sections of SQL statements.

These are some good SQL beginner elements to learn, but of course you’ll encounter many more as you gain SQL proficiency!

List of SQL Commands

There are a few frequently used SQL commands you should be familiar with for database work. When working with databases, an SQL programmer might write commands such as:

  • CREATE DATABASE – to create a database
  • CREATE TABLE – to create tables
  • SELECT – to find/extract some data from a database
  • UPDATE – make adjustments and edit data
  • DELETE – to delete some data
  • DROP – to remove tables and databases
  • INSERT INTO – to insert new data into a database

These are just the most common SQL commands. The more complicated the database is, the more commands you as the programmer will need to use.

These Sequel commands are used when writing queries–inquiries that allow you to operate data in databases.

In other words, when you enter these commands in a database system, the system interprets the commands and processes them. The result could be, for example, a new record in the database, or the creation of a new database. 

Here are some quick SQL examples of queries:

CREATE DATABASE name_of_a_database – creates a database;

CREATE TABLE name_of_a_table

 column1 data_type,

  column2 data_type,

  columnX data_type );

The first query is responsible for creating a new database. For example, an app like Facebook might contain databases for each of the following:

  • Users – this database would store all the information about profiles of the users
  • Interests – this database would hold all the different interests that can be used to track the hobbies that users are into
  • Geographic locations – this database would hold all the cities around the world in which Facebook users live
Facebook

The second query (CREATE_TABLE) is responsible for creating a new table inside a particular database.

What Is SQL Used For?

Databases (and therefore SQL) are used in the technology field in almost every area where significant amounts of data are involved.

What does SQL do depending on the context? Let’s look at some of the industries that most commonly use SQL and a little bit about how SQL works for those companies. 

💰 In the finance industry, banking applications and payment processors such as Stripe store and operate data about financial transactions and users. Behind these processes is a complicated database, which SQL is often used for. Moreover, bank database systems have extra security requirements that call for the highest levels of risk compliance in the SQL code used.

Code

🎵 Music applications like Spotify and Pandora also make intensive-use databases. Among other things, Sequel databases help these apps to store vast libraries of music files and albums by various artists, operate this data to find what the user is looking for, store the data about users and their preferences, etc.

Spotify

📱 Social media platforms involve a lot of data processing. Apps like Instagram and Snapchat use SQL to store a user’s profile information such as bio and location, to update the app’s database when a user creates a new post or shares a photo, and to record messages sent from one user to another so the user can retrieve the messages to read again at a later time.

🛍️ Retail companies use databases for inventory management, in order to track product inventory levels, retrieve sales data for specific products or time periods, update stock levels after purchases or sales, etc.

🏥 Healthcare organizations have vast collections of patient records that need to be managed through a hospital database. Healthcare professionals frequently need to retrieve and update patient records, generate reports on patient demographics or medical conditions, and so forth.

📊 Marketing firms need to store and analyze customer data for marketing campaigns, retrieve information on customer preferences and purchasing behavior, update customer profiles based on interactions and feedback, etc.

What Can You Do With SQL? 

While SQL is primarily for managing and querying relational databases, its applications can extend beyond traditional data operations. Here are specific things you can do with SQL in various contexts.

Database operations: Use SQL queries to retrieve specific data from databases based on defined criteria. Update, insert, or delete records in a database using SQL commands.

Data analysis and reporting: Aggregate functions in SQL (e.g., AVG, SUM) allow you to analyze and summarize data. You can also group data based on certain criteria and sort results for analysis.

Integration with programming languages: Integrate SQL with programming languages like Python, Java, or C# to interact with databases from within applications.

Machine learning: SQL can be used to preprocess and clean data before feeding it into machine learning algorithms. SQL queries can also create new features or transform existing ones to improve model performance.

Web development: Backend Development – SQL is often used together with web development frameworks (e.g., Django, Ruby on Rails) to interact with databases.

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All around you, the SQL language is being used to drive these databases. From the social networks on your phone to the apps on your computer, so many pieces of software are running some version of SQL.

With such universal applicability, you can see why this database programming language is such a useful tool to have in your developer’s tool belt. 

SQL Careers and Skills In Demand

SQL is one of the most in-demand skills among all jobs in data, appearing in 42.7% of all data job postings.

Not only that, but according to StackOverflow’s 2023 developer survey, professional developers’ top three technologies are JavaScript, HTML/CSS, and SQL (for the second year in a row).

In addition to dedicated SQL developer jobs, some careers that commonly require SQL skills include:

  • Database Administrator (DBA): Make sure that data is stored, organized, and managed properly to make it easier to retrieve data quickly and accurately.
  • Database Engineer: Plans, creates, and manages databases for a company.
  • Data Analyst: Sorts through massive amounts of data to draw important business insights from it. Data analysts use SQL to access, manipulate, and analyze data stored in a database.
  • Business Intelligence Analyst/Engineer: Analyzes data that is used to make important business decisions. Often supports statistical analysis initiatives. 
  • QA Engineer/Tester: QA engineers and testers, like penetration testers, find, investigate, and report bugs in software. Needs to know SQL in order to verify that databases are functioning properly. 
  • Software Engineer: Many software engineers either work directly or indirectly with databases, which means knowing SQL can be highly beneficial.

SQL Database Systems You Should Know About

A database system is a program that allows a developer to work with databases with the help of a user interface. Database systems often have ready templates, builders, and constructors.

These tools make the life of a database programmer much easier. This is because such tools automate common tasks, such as cleaning up the database system.

Now let’s look at some of the most common SQL database systems. These systems are ranked based on DB-Engines popularity scores. The ranking takes into account the following variables:

  • Number of mentions of the system on websites, measured as the number of results in search engine queries
  • General interest in the system or frequency of searches in Google Trends
  • Frequency of technical discussions about the system
  • Number of job offers in which the system is mentioned
  • Number of profiles in professional networks in which the system is mentioned
  • Relevance in social networks
SQL database systems

Oracle Database

Oracle is the leading SQL database system in the world. It’s used in a wide range of industries, but is particularly popular in data warehousing and online transaction processing.

➡️ Learn Oracle here: Coursera’s Oracle SQL Databases Specialization

MySQL

This open-source database system is available for free to individuals and businesses. It’s highly popular with small businesses and startups since there’s no license fee. Because of its open-source model, MySQL is used in many open-source software programs and applications.

Curious about the difference between SQL and MySQL? The name can confuse some people, so when it comes to SQL vs. MySQL, remember that SQL is the language and MySQL is a database system. SQL and MySQL work together, but are completely different. You use SQL to access, update, and manipulate data stored in a MySQL database.

➡️ Learn MySQL here: Udemy’s The Ultimate MySQL Bootcamp: Go from SQL Beginner to Expert

Microsoft SQL Server

SQL Server is Microsoft’s bespoke SQL database management system. This database runs on Windows, Linux, and Docker containers. It’s used in consumer software as well as on web servers that run Windows. It has a large user base.

➡️ Learn SQL Server here: Pluralsight’s SQL Server Fundamentals

PostgreSQL

A major competitor to MySQL, PostgreSQL is another free, open source database system. It’s used widely by technology startups for its free licensing model.

PostgreSQL supports all major operating systems–MacOS, Windows and Linux. It places greater emphasis on following standard SQL syntax than other databases. Other databases (like SQL Server) greatly modify the SQL standard, making them harder to learn.

➡️ Learn PostgreSQL here: Pluralsight’s PostgreSQL: Getting Started

MongoDB

MongoDB is a database that stores and manages data in a flexible, document-oriented format.

Unlike traditional relational databases that use tables with rows and columns, MongoDB uses a format called BSON (Binary JSON) to store data in flexible, JSON-like documents.

MongoDB is known as a NoSQL (aka “not only SQL”) database, meaning it doesn’t rely on a fixed schema and can handle different types of data without the need for a predefined structure.

Other NoSQL or non-relational databases include MongoDB, Apache Cassandra, and Couchbase. (You cannot use SQL to access these databases.)

However, there are tools and connectors that allow you to interact with MongoDB using SQL-like syntax. For example, MongoDB has a feature called the MongoDB Connector for BI, which provides a SQL interface to query and analyze data stored in MongoDB using popular Business Intelligence (BI) tools that support SQL queries.

➡️ Learn MongoDB here: MongoDB – The Complete Developer’s Guide 2023

Also see my guide, Why You Should Learn MongoDB (And 10 Resources to Help Get Started).

Choosing a Sequel database system to learn can seem challenging given so many good choices. If in doubt, go with one of the free, open-source options such as MySQL or PostgreSQL.

Where to Learn SQL for Beginners

So how do you actually go about learning beginner SQL? Here’s a quick rundown of the steps:

  1. Master the basics. Start by learning the basic SQL syntax. W3Schools has great SQL tutorials that can help you get familiar with the language. 
  2. Take a SQL course. Take a course to build up your SQL knowledge. Learn SQL from Codecademy is a good starting point for beginners.
  3. Work on real-world projects. Practice with real data + a database. Here are some project ideas for inspiration.

Below, find specific resources for where to learn SQL, including books and courses that will take you from SQL beginner to a programmer with SQL proficiency who’s ready to hunt for SQL developer jobs.

The Best Books For Learning SQL

A well-written book on SQL will cover SQL and databases in-depth, giving you a firm grounding in Sequel fundamentals. In addition, you will learn the common mistakes that developers make when writing SQL, and how to avoid them. 

Reading books

Here are some popular books for learning SQL.

Disclosure: The books below are available on Amazon. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, so if you click one of the links below and buy a product, I may get a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Check out other programming books here. 

Online Courses For Learning SQL

Besides beginner SQL books, you can also get started by taking an online SQL course.

Woman on laptop

Here are some of the best courses for learning SQL. 

SQL For Beginners Courses

SQL Courses For Intermediate and Advanced Developers

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Where to Ask for Help Learning SQL

In your programming journey, there will be times where you get stuck on an SQL problem or other coding challenges. Books and SQL guides can only take you so far sometimes.

Turning to online coding discussion sites is one of the best ways to get help and improve your SQL skills. Programmer sites such as Stack Overflow are amazing resources to connect SQL beginners with free help from experienced programmers.

Asking for help

Here are some Q&A sites to check out for SQL examples, discussions, and help from the pros:

  • Stack Overflow – discussion site for programmers, covering SQL and many other topics
  • Quora – Q&A site where you can ask more conceptual questions
  • Reddit – Reddit has a sizable community of programmers who hang in subreddits like r/SQL.
  • StackExchange – StackExchange has numerous discussion sites for various programming topics

Another way to get SQL help is to use AI tools!

GitHub Copilot is an extension for various integrated development environments (IDEs), such as Visual Studio Code, that can help you with your code, such as SQL, by suggesting code snippets and autocompleting entire lines or blocks of code as you write.

As you learn SQL, you can use Copilot to help you write better code.

You can also try asking AI, such as ChatGPT, generic questions about SQL. Just make sure to double-check its accuracy!

These tools are best used as a supplement to your learning journey, rather than a shortcut.

How Long Does It Take to Learn SQL Language?

⏰ Is SQL easy to learn? Yes and no!

It’s possible to learn the basics of SQL in just a matter of weeks if you’re already familiar with programming concepts and have learned other coding languages before.

If you’re totally new to programming, going through an SQL tutorial for beginners might take a bit longer.

The best way to learn SQL and accelerate your language learning is to work on projects.

There’s no need to start big here. Once you learn the basics, find a small project that involves making use of SQL, then write the code for that. 

For example, you could create a database that organizes your music collection. You could also write a small web app that connects to a database system such as MySQL or PostgreSQL.

As you improve your knowledge, you can tackle progressively larger projects.

Man on laptop with headphones

Daily coding practice and coursework will improve your skills very quickly.

When applying for junior SQL developer jobs, it should be enough to have at least one successful project done. This will prove that you have basic skills like creating a database, connecting it to the application, and operating (input, edit, output) data from the application.

To reach an advanced level, you should work on real projects and real SQL example cases that will help you to master your skills and gain a lot of unique experience.

Ready to Teach Yourself SQL Language? 

Now is a great time to learn SQL language. As the top programming language for databases, SQL is used by many companies in almost every industry. If you want to learn an in-demand skill, Sequel language is the way to go!

Use this beginner’s guide to SQL to find the resources you need and start your journey.

About the Author

Anastasia Stefanuk is a passionate writer and a marketing manager at Mobilunity. The company provides professional staffing services, so she is always aware of technology news and wants to share her experience to help tech startups and companies to be up-to-date.

Note: This article contains Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.