Code icon

The App is Under a Quick Maintenance

We apologize for the inconvenience. Please come back later

Cuantum Technologies logo
Dashboard
Perfil
Facturación
Full Access
Salir
Menu iconMenu iconLa Biblia de Python y SQL: Desde principiante hasta experto mundial
La Biblia de Python y SQL: Desde principiante hasta experto mundial
Arrow Icon
Chapter 12: Introduction to SQL
12.1 Brief History of SQL
12.2 SQL Syntax
12.3 SQL Data Types
12.4 SQL Operations
12.5 SQL Queries
12.6 Practical Exercises of Chapter 12: Introduction to SQL
Comprar libro
You've learned this already. ✅
Click here to view the next lesson.

Chapter 12: Introduction to SQL

12.2 SQL Syntax

SQL is a declarative language, which means that it allows you to specify what you want, rather than how to get it. This makes it a high-level language that abstracts away some of the details of the underlying data structure and retrieval methods, allowing you to focus on the data itself. However, this doesn't mean that SQL is not powerful. In fact, with its comprehensive set of operators and functions, SQL can handle complex data manipulations with ease.

The basic structure of a SQL query comprises several components, each of which plays a crucial role in formulating an effective query. These components include clauses, expressions, predicates, and statements. The clauses specify the type of query you want to perform, while the expressions define the data you want to retrieve or manipulate. The predicates, on the other hand, are used to filter the data based on specific criteria, and the statements are used to execute the query and return the results.

While constructing a simple SQL query might seem daunting at first, it's actually quite easy once you understand the basic components. By combining these components in different ways, you can create powerful queries that retrieve, manipulate, and analyze large datasets. So, whether you're a data analyst, a database administrator, or a software developer, knowing SQL is an essential skill that can help you work more efficiently and effectively.

12.2.1 Basic Query Structure

A basic SQL query has the following syntax:

SELECT column_name(s)
FROM table_name
WHERE condition;

Let's break down this structure:

  • SELECT: This keyword is used to specify the data we want. We list the column names that contain the data we're interested in. If we want to select all columns, we use .
  • FROM: This keyword is used to specify the table from which we want to retrieve the data.
  • WHERE: This optional keyword is used to filter the results based on certain conditions.

For example, let's consider a hypothetical employees table that contains the following columns: id, first_name, last_name, department, salary.

If we want to retrieve the first_name and last_name of all employees in the HR department, we'd write the following SQL query:

SELECT first_name, last_name
FROM employees
WHERE department = 'HR';

12.2.2 SQL Keywords

SQL is a programming language used to manage and manipulate data stored in relational databases. One interesting feature of SQL is that it is case-insensitive, meaning that keywords like SELECT, FROM, and WHERE can be written in lowercase as select, from, and where. 

However, to improve code readability and make it easier to distinguish SQL keywords from table and column names, it is common practice to write SQL keywords in uppercase. This is especially important when working with complex queries involving multiple tables, joins, and subqueries, as it can help avoid confusion and errors.

Additionally, using consistent capitalization for SQL keywords can also make it easier for others to understand and maintain your code in the future. Therefore, while it is technically possible to write SQL queries in all lowercase, it is generally recommended to use uppercase for SQL keywords to improve code readability and maintainability.

12.2.3 SQL Statements

A SQL query is a specific type of request made to a database management system, which is designed to retrieve data from a database. In addition to queries, there are several other types of SQL statements that are used to manipulate data within a database.

For example, an INSERT statement is used to add new data to a database, while an UPDATE statement is used to modify existing data. A DELETE statement is used to remove data from a database, and a CREATE statement is used to create new database objects, such as tables, indexes, or views.

These different types of SQL statements are all important tools for working with databases and managing data effectively.

For example:

  • The INSERT INTO statement is used to insert new data into a table.
  • The UPDATE statement is used to modify existing data in a table.
  • The DELETE statement is used to remove data from a table.
  • The CREATE TABLE statement is used to create a new table.

12.2.4 SQL Expressions

An SQL expression is a powerful tool that allows database users to perform complex queries. In essence, an SQL expression is a combination of one or more values, operators, and SQL functions that return a value. These values can be anything from numeric constants to strings of text. The operators, on the other hand, allow users to perform a wide range of mathematical and logical operations on the values. Some of the operators that are commonly used in SQL expressions include addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and comparison operators.

SQL expressions are used in various parts of SQL statements, such as the SELECT, WHERE, and ORDER BY clauses. In the SELECT clause, for example, an SQL expression can be used to specify the columns that should be included in the query results. In the WHERE clause, an SQL expression can be used to filter the query results based on certain conditions. And in the ORDER BY clause, an SQL expression can be used to sort the query results in a specific order.

Overall, SQL expressions are a fundamental part of SQL and are essential for anyone who wants to work with databases. By understanding how SQL expressions work and how to use them effectively, users can perform complex queries and extract valuable insights from their data.

For instance, let's say we want to calculate the total salary expense for the HR department:

SELECT SUM(salary)
FROM employees
WHERE department = 'HR';

Here, SUM(salary) is an expression that calculates the sum of the salary column for the rows that satisfy the condition specified in the WHERE clause.

The beauty of SQL lies in the fact that these basic principles can be expanded and combined in various ways to create complex queries to analyze and manipulate data. In the upcoming sections, we'll delve deeper into SQL's powerful features and learn how to put them into practice.

12.2 SQL Syntax

SQL is a declarative language, which means that it allows you to specify what you want, rather than how to get it. This makes it a high-level language that abstracts away some of the details of the underlying data structure and retrieval methods, allowing you to focus on the data itself. However, this doesn't mean that SQL is not powerful. In fact, with its comprehensive set of operators and functions, SQL can handle complex data manipulations with ease.

The basic structure of a SQL query comprises several components, each of which plays a crucial role in formulating an effective query. These components include clauses, expressions, predicates, and statements. The clauses specify the type of query you want to perform, while the expressions define the data you want to retrieve or manipulate. The predicates, on the other hand, are used to filter the data based on specific criteria, and the statements are used to execute the query and return the results.

While constructing a simple SQL query might seem daunting at first, it's actually quite easy once you understand the basic components. By combining these components in different ways, you can create powerful queries that retrieve, manipulate, and analyze large datasets. So, whether you're a data analyst, a database administrator, or a software developer, knowing SQL is an essential skill that can help you work more efficiently and effectively.

12.2.1 Basic Query Structure

A basic SQL query has the following syntax:

SELECT column_name(s)
FROM table_name
WHERE condition;

Let's break down this structure:

  • SELECT: This keyword is used to specify the data we want. We list the column names that contain the data we're interested in. If we want to select all columns, we use .
  • FROM: This keyword is used to specify the table from which we want to retrieve the data.
  • WHERE: This optional keyword is used to filter the results based on certain conditions.

For example, let's consider a hypothetical employees table that contains the following columns: id, first_name, last_name, department, salary.

If we want to retrieve the first_name and last_name of all employees in the HR department, we'd write the following SQL query:

SELECT first_name, last_name
FROM employees
WHERE department = 'HR';

12.2.2 SQL Keywords

SQL is a programming language used to manage and manipulate data stored in relational databases. One interesting feature of SQL is that it is case-insensitive, meaning that keywords like SELECT, FROM, and WHERE can be written in lowercase as select, from, and where. 

However, to improve code readability and make it easier to distinguish SQL keywords from table and column names, it is common practice to write SQL keywords in uppercase. This is especially important when working with complex queries involving multiple tables, joins, and subqueries, as it can help avoid confusion and errors.

Additionally, using consistent capitalization for SQL keywords can also make it easier for others to understand and maintain your code in the future. Therefore, while it is technically possible to write SQL queries in all lowercase, it is generally recommended to use uppercase for SQL keywords to improve code readability and maintainability.

12.2.3 SQL Statements

A SQL query is a specific type of request made to a database management system, which is designed to retrieve data from a database. In addition to queries, there are several other types of SQL statements that are used to manipulate data within a database.

For example, an INSERT statement is used to add new data to a database, while an UPDATE statement is used to modify existing data. A DELETE statement is used to remove data from a database, and a CREATE statement is used to create new database objects, such as tables, indexes, or views.

These different types of SQL statements are all important tools for working with databases and managing data effectively.

For example:

  • The INSERT INTO statement is used to insert new data into a table.
  • The UPDATE statement is used to modify existing data in a table.
  • The DELETE statement is used to remove data from a table.
  • The CREATE TABLE statement is used to create a new table.

12.2.4 SQL Expressions

An SQL expression is a powerful tool that allows database users to perform complex queries. In essence, an SQL expression is a combination of one or more values, operators, and SQL functions that return a value. These values can be anything from numeric constants to strings of text. The operators, on the other hand, allow users to perform a wide range of mathematical and logical operations on the values. Some of the operators that are commonly used in SQL expressions include addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and comparison operators.

SQL expressions are used in various parts of SQL statements, such as the SELECT, WHERE, and ORDER BY clauses. In the SELECT clause, for example, an SQL expression can be used to specify the columns that should be included in the query results. In the WHERE clause, an SQL expression can be used to filter the query results based on certain conditions. And in the ORDER BY clause, an SQL expression can be used to sort the query results in a specific order.

Overall, SQL expressions are a fundamental part of SQL and are essential for anyone who wants to work with databases. By understanding how SQL expressions work and how to use them effectively, users can perform complex queries and extract valuable insights from their data.

For instance, let's say we want to calculate the total salary expense for the HR department:

SELECT SUM(salary)
FROM employees
WHERE department = 'HR';

Here, SUM(salary) is an expression that calculates the sum of the salary column for the rows that satisfy the condition specified in the WHERE clause.

The beauty of SQL lies in the fact that these basic principles can be expanded and combined in various ways to create complex queries to analyze and manipulate data. In the upcoming sections, we'll delve deeper into SQL's powerful features and learn how to put them into practice.

12.2 SQL Syntax

SQL is a declarative language, which means that it allows you to specify what you want, rather than how to get it. This makes it a high-level language that abstracts away some of the details of the underlying data structure and retrieval methods, allowing you to focus on the data itself. However, this doesn't mean that SQL is not powerful. In fact, with its comprehensive set of operators and functions, SQL can handle complex data manipulations with ease.

The basic structure of a SQL query comprises several components, each of which plays a crucial role in formulating an effective query. These components include clauses, expressions, predicates, and statements. The clauses specify the type of query you want to perform, while the expressions define the data you want to retrieve or manipulate. The predicates, on the other hand, are used to filter the data based on specific criteria, and the statements are used to execute the query and return the results.

While constructing a simple SQL query might seem daunting at first, it's actually quite easy once you understand the basic components. By combining these components in different ways, you can create powerful queries that retrieve, manipulate, and analyze large datasets. So, whether you're a data analyst, a database administrator, or a software developer, knowing SQL is an essential skill that can help you work more efficiently and effectively.

12.2.1 Basic Query Structure

A basic SQL query has the following syntax:

SELECT column_name(s)
FROM table_name
WHERE condition;

Let's break down this structure:

  • SELECT: This keyword is used to specify the data we want. We list the column names that contain the data we're interested in. If we want to select all columns, we use .
  • FROM: This keyword is used to specify the table from which we want to retrieve the data.
  • WHERE: This optional keyword is used to filter the results based on certain conditions.

For example, let's consider a hypothetical employees table that contains the following columns: id, first_name, last_name, department, salary.

If we want to retrieve the first_name and last_name of all employees in the HR department, we'd write the following SQL query:

SELECT first_name, last_name
FROM employees
WHERE department = 'HR';

12.2.2 SQL Keywords

SQL is a programming language used to manage and manipulate data stored in relational databases. One interesting feature of SQL is that it is case-insensitive, meaning that keywords like SELECT, FROM, and WHERE can be written in lowercase as select, from, and where. 

However, to improve code readability and make it easier to distinguish SQL keywords from table and column names, it is common practice to write SQL keywords in uppercase. This is especially important when working with complex queries involving multiple tables, joins, and subqueries, as it can help avoid confusion and errors.

Additionally, using consistent capitalization for SQL keywords can also make it easier for others to understand and maintain your code in the future. Therefore, while it is technically possible to write SQL queries in all lowercase, it is generally recommended to use uppercase for SQL keywords to improve code readability and maintainability.

12.2.3 SQL Statements

A SQL query is a specific type of request made to a database management system, which is designed to retrieve data from a database. In addition to queries, there are several other types of SQL statements that are used to manipulate data within a database.

For example, an INSERT statement is used to add new data to a database, while an UPDATE statement is used to modify existing data. A DELETE statement is used to remove data from a database, and a CREATE statement is used to create new database objects, such as tables, indexes, or views.

These different types of SQL statements are all important tools for working with databases and managing data effectively.

For example:

  • The INSERT INTO statement is used to insert new data into a table.
  • The UPDATE statement is used to modify existing data in a table.
  • The DELETE statement is used to remove data from a table.
  • The CREATE TABLE statement is used to create a new table.

12.2.4 SQL Expressions

An SQL expression is a powerful tool that allows database users to perform complex queries. In essence, an SQL expression is a combination of one or more values, operators, and SQL functions that return a value. These values can be anything from numeric constants to strings of text. The operators, on the other hand, allow users to perform a wide range of mathematical and logical operations on the values. Some of the operators that are commonly used in SQL expressions include addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and comparison operators.

SQL expressions are used in various parts of SQL statements, such as the SELECT, WHERE, and ORDER BY clauses. In the SELECT clause, for example, an SQL expression can be used to specify the columns that should be included in the query results. In the WHERE clause, an SQL expression can be used to filter the query results based on certain conditions. And in the ORDER BY clause, an SQL expression can be used to sort the query results in a specific order.

Overall, SQL expressions are a fundamental part of SQL and are essential for anyone who wants to work with databases. By understanding how SQL expressions work and how to use them effectively, users can perform complex queries and extract valuable insights from their data.

For instance, let's say we want to calculate the total salary expense for the HR department:

SELECT SUM(salary)
FROM employees
WHERE department = 'HR';

Here, SUM(salary) is an expression that calculates the sum of the salary column for the rows that satisfy the condition specified in the WHERE clause.

The beauty of SQL lies in the fact that these basic principles can be expanded and combined in various ways to create complex queries to analyze and manipulate data. In the upcoming sections, we'll delve deeper into SQL's powerful features and learn how to put them into practice.

12.2 SQL Syntax

SQL is a declarative language, which means that it allows you to specify what you want, rather than how to get it. This makes it a high-level language that abstracts away some of the details of the underlying data structure and retrieval methods, allowing you to focus on the data itself. However, this doesn't mean that SQL is not powerful. In fact, with its comprehensive set of operators and functions, SQL can handle complex data manipulations with ease.

The basic structure of a SQL query comprises several components, each of which plays a crucial role in formulating an effective query. These components include clauses, expressions, predicates, and statements. The clauses specify the type of query you want to perform, while the expressions define the data you want to retrieve or manipulate. The predicates, on the other hand, are used to filter the data based on specific criteria, and the statements are used to execute the query and return the results.

While constructing a simple SQL query might seem daunting at first, it's actually quite easy once you understand the basic components. By combining these components in different ways, you can create powerful queries that retrieve, manipulate, and analyze large datasets. So, whether you're a data analyst, a database administrator, or a software developer, knowing SQL is an essential skill that can help you work more efficiently and effectively.

12.2.1 Basic Query Structure

A basic SQL query has the following syntax:

SELECT column_name(s)
FROM table_name
WHERE condition;

Let's break down this structure:

  • SELECT: This keyword is used to specify the data we want. We list the column names that contain the data we're interested in. If we want to select all columns, we use .
  • FROM: This keyword is used to specify the table from which we want to retrieve the data.
  • WHERE: This optional keyword is used to filter the results based on certain conditions.

For example, let's consider a hypothetical employees table that contains the following columns: id, first_name, last_name, department, salary.

If we want to retrieve the first_name and last_name of all employees in the HR department, we'd write the following SQL query:

SELECT first_name, last_name
FROM employees
WHERE department = 'HR';

12.2.2 SQL Keywords

SQL is a programming language used to manage and manipulate data stored in relational databases. One interesting feature of SQL is that it is case-insensitive, meaning that keywords like SELECT, FROM, and WHERE can be written in lowercase as select, from, and where. 

However, to improve code readability and make it easier to distinguish SQL keywords from table and column names, it is common practice to write SQL keywords in uppercase. This is especially important when working with complex queries involving multiple tables, joins, and subqueries, as it can help avoid confusion and errors.

Additionally, using consistent capitalization for SQL keywords can also make it easier for others to understand and maintain your code in the future. Therefore, while it is technically possible to write SQL queries in all lowercase, it is generally recommended to use uppercase for SQL keywords to improve code readability and maintainability.

12.2.3 SQL Statements

A SQL query is a specific type of request made to a database management system, which is designed to retrieve data from a database. In addition to queries, there are several other types of SQL statements that are used to manipulate data within a database.

For example, an INSERT statement is used to add new data to a database, while an UPDATE statement is used to modify existing data. A DELETE statement is used to remove data from a database, and a CREATE statement is used to create new database objects, such as tables, indexes, or views.

These different types of SQL statements are all important tools for working with databases and managing data effectively.

For example:

  • The INSERT INTO statement is used to insert new data into a table.
  • The UPDATE statement is used to modify existing data in a table.
  • The DELETE statement is used to remove data from a table.
  • The CREATE TABLE statement is used to create a new table.

12.2.4 SQL Expressions

An SQL expression is a powerful tool that allows database users to perform complex queries. In essence, an SQL expression is a combination of one or more values, operators, and SQL functions that return a value. These values can be anything from numeric constants to strings of text. The operators, on the other hand, allow users to perform a wide range of mathematical and logical operations on the values. Some of the operators that are commonly used in SQL expressions include addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and comparison operators.

SQL expressions are used in various parts of SQL statements, such as the SELECT, WHERE, and ORDER BY clauses. In the SELECT clause, for example, an SQL expression can be used to specify the columns that should be included in the query results. In the WHERE clause, an SQL expression can be used to filter the query results based on certain conditions. And in the ORDER BY clause, an SQL expression can be used to sort the query results in a specific order.

Overall, SQL expressions are a fundamental part of SQL and are essential for anyone who wants to work with databases. By understanding how SQL expressions work and how to use them effectively, users can perform complex queries and extract valuable insights from their data.

For instance, let's say we want to calculate the total salary expense for the HR department:

SELECT SUM(salary)
FROM employees
WHERE department = 'HR';

Here, SUM(salary) is an expression that calculates the sum of the salary column for the rows that satisfy the condition specified in the WHERE clause.

The beauty of SQL lies in the fact that these basic principles can be expanded and combined in various ways to create complex queries to analyze and manipulate data. In the upcoming sections, we'll delve deeper into SQL's powerful features and learn how to put them into practice.

Compra este libro