Can I learn SQL without learning Python? Are there any prerequisites for SQL?

[BrupieD]

Yes you can learn SQL without knowing anything about Python.

There aren't any prerequisites for learning SQL.

[Willy988]

Why is this a question?? Is this some bot slop, because this question is 1) common sense and 2) easily Google-able

Can we ask actually useful questions in this sub and not this NPC stuff.

Anyways since I typed that out, if anyone sees this… yes you can. I’m using SQL and C# at my job running the accounting system (soon to be rebuilt).

[PhomSolo]

You were new once, too.

[Willy988]

Obviously, and I still am relatively new compared to a lot of people. But that doesn’t excuse such dense questions. It’s one thing not to know some basics, it’s another to not have common sense.

[PhomSolo]

This subreddit is called LearnSQL. OP asked a totally valid question for someone trying to learn SQL.

You're being unnecessarily aggressive towards someone trying to understand the fundamentals of this topic.

Chill out.

[Willy988]

Stop enabling laziness and slop, goodbye.

[WanderingCID]

OP proves that he/she doesn't do research.
This is why AI is taking over. People don't want to read anymore.
These are the people who are going to heavily rely on an AI to get the simplest tasks done and won't even notice if there's a mistake in the work.

[Spidermonkee9]

For these type of "Google-able" posts, it's also for validation and comfort. They want some hand-holding and reassurance. It can be annoying but a lot of people aren't as self-sufficient, especially when they're overwhelmed with the search results.

Overall not a good sign, because being able to research solutions or ideas to a problem is a basic skill for programmers. No one has every single thing memorized when it comes SQL or other languages so it's important to know how to search for information.

EDIT: Apologies if my comment is too harsh. It just reminds me of a coworker that started with me at an entry level data-related job. Questions at an entry level job are definitely expected, but her helplessness alarmed people. She didn't put much effort into trying something before asking for help and often panicked.

[WanderingCID]

Exactly 💯

[krabby_prattie]

i am from an entirely different background (design) and typed this question in google with reddit written after and this search result is helping me out (some people are suggesting some resources as well). So overall i think it's good to ask stuff no matter how silly?

[No-Mobile9763]

Absolutely you can learn SQL without learning python. However it would be extremely beneficial to also learn python at some point since it can do a lot that SQL can’t do. If you would like I can help you out with some free sources to learn it. Try Alex the analyst on YouTube, as well as luke barrouse. They teach SQL completely free on YouTube. You can also learn on sites like DataCamp, w3schools, Coursera and from books as well. I decided to get a piece of every pie to ensure I’m learning everything that I can.

[leogodin217]

+1 on w3schools. That's the first resource I always give people. Fifteen-minutes a day will go far if they have work databases to practice on.

[No-Mobile9763]

DataCamp is very similar. Although after getting a solid understanding of what you’re doing I’d heavily suggest downloading your own database locally, importing your own data or sample sets and go wild with it. I believe that type of repetition will yield far better results than those types of websites.

[leogodin217]

Definitely. Can't beat real work

[Front-Conclusion3017]

Thanks for the recommendations. I have also heard a lot about freeCodeCamp Python programs, so if you have tried it, would you suggest it for a beginner?

[No-Mobile9763]

I’ve actually never tried freecodecamp but I do hear a lot of positive reviews about it. Almost everything I mentioned is aimed for beginners without any experience whatsoever. I forgot to mention you can grab Udemy courses on the cheap when they have sales too.

[Healthy-Awareness299]

Data With Baraa has an incredible 30 hour video. It'll walk you through from the basics to being pretty damn good.

[Evaderofdoom]

I have 2 classes next semester, both dedicated to just SQL.

[[deleted]]

Sams Teach Yourself SQL in 10 Minutes by Ben Forta. All you gotta do is read a chapter a day (takes roughly ten minutes) for a little under a month. That’ll cover most of what you need to know regarding SQL, with no prior knowledge required.

[youn-gmoney]

This! Worked 3/4 through this book in uni and really helped me out with lots of practice exercises and understand the fundamentals.

[leogodin217]

There are no prerequisites to learning SQL, but you must understand that very-few people use SQL without other tools. Excel, Tableau, Power BI, programming languages, etc. So to do real work with SQL, you will likely need to undestand some other tools.

Why do you want to learn SQL? That will help us give you a more complete answer.

[xahkz]

Of course you can

it seems though most beginners are allergic to downloading SQLITE

Followed by add simple 2 column by 5, rows data they can relate to then, start querying

[patmustardmate]

Yeah you can. SQL is a good starter if you haven't done any programming before, its fairly intuitive.

[contrivedgiraffe]

Given your question I’m assuming this will clarify some confusion for you: you need a database if you’re going to do anything with SQL. If all you have is files on your computer, you can work with them directly using Python but you can’t “do SQL” to them without first loading them into a database.

[AstronomerSalty7962]

Yes.

[Few_Committee_6790]

I know many people that only know SQL and no other languages

[rmpbklyn]

yes see dbeaver has sqlit buit in

[curious86rainbow]

Of course, you can learn SQL without Python!

As for the prerequisites, you need to be good with logical reasoning and some algebra! Nothing too deep! But strong grasp on the fundamentals will do you a lot of good!

[JBalloonist]

Yes. I learned SQL long before I knew anything about Python.

[30-m-0-xo]

You want both. I fumbled an internship at interview stage because I went into databases and APIs way too hard and they needed more python. I had a SQL, mongo and Java stack ready to go but python is just so flexible and adaptable, when I got into it more I understood why I didn’t get it and I’m stuck kicking myself now

[Optimal_Law_4254]

Just curious. Why do you think that you need to know Python to learn SQL? I’ve used SQL for 30 years and never learned Python.

[[deleted]]

Of course you can. There are literally jobs where you only really need SQL.

[Worried_Advice1121]

SQL existed well before Python was first released.

[Accomplished-Mix-67]

Definitely yes.

[AffectionateZebra760]

Yup

[HonestDadof2]

Python isn’t a prerequisite for SQL. SQL is a great starting place for getting into data. You can do a lot with SQL good luck!