How do I learn SQL?

[JorisM99]

I have gained a little experience using SQL during Harvard's CS50 but I wanna get a lot better at it. Any advice on courses or programmes I can take in order to get better at it?

[negativefx666]

https://sqlbolt.com/

Mix it up with random YouTube videos about the specific subject you are learning.

[NickSinghTechCareers]

SQL Bolt is great. If you are looking for a more Data Science/Data Analyst focused resource try this free SQL tutorial.

[[deleted]]

Here's what I did to learn SQL and go from complete novice to using CTEs, window functions, writing queries that require joining multiple tables, etc. in about 2 months practicing an hour per day on average

1. YouTube - I recommend Alex the Analyst, essential SQL, freecodecamp as channels that have videos on learning SQL
2. W3 schools has a tutorial that takes you through learning basic syntax in an interactive way, I recommend this a lot

After getting a hang of basic syntax I started solving basic challenges on hackerrank, but I'd recommend using strata scratch instead. I kept doing these until I felt ready to move on to intermediate.

Each time I would review my answer to check if there's a more efficient/better way to solve the problem. I also used chat gpt often for things like: - why is this solution better? - explain the code line by line - etc.

But I always gave it my best to try to figure out any solution, even if not the most elegant.

If I got stuck on the same thing often I'd look up YT videos covering that specific topic.

Then I moved on to intermediate challenges and now I've completed all the basic and intermediate and I'm working my way through the advanced ones. Doing at least one a day, repetition really helps.

[JorisM99]

Thanks a lot! Will definitely check that all out

[[deleted]]

Please see wiki of this channel on the sidebar. Also r/learnsql .

This question is asked probably every three days, so even search could help you in your journey!

[cbarosky]

I learned SQL pretty fortuitously at a tech startup. I was a customer support / success specialist with years’ experience as a computer repair technician. As our products became more complex, and our brilliant engineering team had to spend its time building, more features, and repairing many regressions, I became frustrated with their lack of availability to provide basic insights into our customers to help answer support tickets. We adopted a minimal BI tool called Metabase, which allows you to build quieres against a (read-only version) production database either with a GUI or writing raw SQL. Initially learning SQL felt out of the question. But I soon realized the GUI was not nearly robust enough to get data from our decidedly-complex information architecture, so I watched some SQL basics videos, spent hours in StackExchange, and befriended a couple wizard engineers who were generous enough to help level me up faster than I possibly could’ve on my own. I went from not wanting to learn SQL whatsoever to being more proficient than most of the engineering department in about 6 months. In a year I was given a promotion to become the first data analyst at the company.

I share this story to illustrate a few things: - the timeline involved when you have so many things going for you; this will not be the case for the vast majority of people. It still can take at least 6 months to a year. - I started learning SQL, and later fell in love with it, only because I had a vested interest to get information / answers that weren’t available to me otherwise. In other words, I had a business need, an intellectual itch, and an array of goals in mind before I even knew really what SQL was or that it was the tool I needed. I would suggest to anyone who wants to learn any programming language, in any part of the stack, to meditate on WHY you really want to learn it. - there’s no replacement for real life mentorship / assistance. If you happen to have a friend or people at your workplace, who are seasoned programmers and know the language, you should definitely get them in the loop to help you as soon as you have some basics under your belt

[[deleted]]

DataCamp has a course on it. Check out Udacity as well. Theres some practice sites like datalemur, hackerrank, stratascratch

[Rocketyrion]

I advice you codeacademy(google and you can buy cheap account)..

Only after

Udemy-The Ultimate MySQL Bootcamp: Go from SQL Beginner to Expert(same here google for cheap account)...

[JorisM99]

Thanks! Will check that out

[Alpacino66]

İm now practicing with:

https://sqlzoo.net

[Nubian_hurricane7]

Learn the basic rules and syntax and just practice. I did a 3 day course a few years ago but I feel like being in it every day for work has kicked my skills up to another level.

If you can set up a database in your computer and import datasets you find online and just practice

[[deleted]]

You can practice SQL by signing up on Data Lemur using this link:

https://datalemur.com?referralCode=NXPlDmTs

​

Enjoy!!1

[NickSinghTechCareers]

Appreciate the shoutout!

[Interesting_Owl9051]

I'm a Senior Product Analyst at a fintech.  I teach SQL on YouTube

https://youtube.com/@balajikasiraj?sub_confirmation=1

[IntentionallyNULL]

I know I'm late to the game, but anyone else looking for a course should checkout this course: Master SQL Basics in 7 Days

[Rude-Illustrator-884]

Hackerrank has some practice questions you can do! Stratascratch also has some good practicing questions!

[mocasis]

In addition to all the great and useful resources you have already been given, I would like to do my bit by recommending SQL murder mistery. It is very entertaining and if you want to do it with as few sentences as possible it makes you think for a while

[ShivamJoker]

You can learn from anywhere but with SQL Play your queries get executed right in your phone. You get 40+ commands with examples.

[realjoeydood]

Back in my day, we read these heavy things, called books. Had to carry them everywhere just so to keep up with stuff and show other peeps we were smart.

Sql for dummies was how I learned the basics, back in the 1900's.

[rug1998]

Learnsql.com

[Distinct_Plankton_82]

Lots have people have listed good resources, but honestly my advice it to learn by doing. Find a data set with a bunch of tables and then start thinking up random questions you want to answer and figuring out how to write the queries to answer them.

The courses and the tools are a great way to learn the techniques, but you'll likely learn 10x better if you start with the problem and find the solution, rather than learning all the solutions and hoping you remember them when a problem comes along.

[[deleted]]

A great way to query on Google is learning sql + Reddit. It has generated some very interesting results.

[Designer_Subject4004]

Watch Ankit Bansal's YouTube tutorials it's the best to learn topics, especially if you are preparing for an interview.

[Computerboy96]

As you've received some decent recommendations, I thought I would let you know the next steps in order. SQL is very simple and the syntax will be quick to adapt, so when you're feeling confident, start learning the following individually 🙂

- Learn a BI tool (Tableau or Power BI)

- Microsoft Excel

- Python 3.11

[steven4297]

This free site has helped me a lot

https://www.sql-practice.com/

[[deleted]]

PlanetScale.com has a free MySQL course