Basic SQL Training

Data is everywhere—but the ability to ask the right questions and extract meaningful answers is what truly sets professionals apart. SQL (Structured Query Language) is the universal language behind almost every modern application, report, and business decision, making it an essential skill for anyone working with data today.

This 2-day SQL Basic Training is a hands-on, beginner-friendly course designed to help participants confidently work with relational databases from day one. You’ll learn how data is structured, how databases relate to each other, and most importantly how to write clear, effective SQL queries to retrieve, filter, and analyze information. Through guided examples and practical exercises, you’ll move beyond theory and gain the skills needed to explore data, generate insights, and support everyday business and technical tasks.

Course Objectives

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the basics of relational database concepts and SQL syntax.

• Write simple SQL queries to retrieve data from tables.

• Apply filtering, sorting, and limiting techniques to query results.

• Use SQL built-in functions (aggregate & scalar).

• Perform joins to combine data from multiple tables.

• Group data using GROUP BY and apply conditions using HAVING.

• Insert, update, and delete records in a database.

• Apply best practices when writing SQL queries.

Prerequisites

Learners attending this course must have:

• Basic computer skills (Windows navigation, file management).

• Basic understanding of data (tables, columns, rows).

• No prior SQL or programming experience required.

Course Outline

Day 1: SQL Foundations & Core Querying

Module 1: Introduction to Databases & SQL

• What is a Database?

• What is SQL and why is it important?

• Relational Database Concepts, Tables, Rows, Columns.

• Primary Keys & Foreign Keys.

• Relationships (One-to-One, One-to-Many, Many-to-Many).

• SQL Tools: SSMS / Azure Data Studio / MySQL Workbench.

Module 2: SQL Query Basics (SELECT Statements)

• SELECT syntax.

• Selecting single and multiple columns.

• Using aliases (AS).

• Using DISTINCT.

• Understanding NULL values.

Module 3: Filtering Data with WHERE

• WHERE clause and logical operators.

• Comparison operators.

• Logical operators.

• Using BETWEEN, IN, LIKE.

• Using wildcards.

Module 4: Sorting and Limiting Results

• ORDER BY (ASC, DESC).

• Sorting by multiple columns.

• TOP / LIMIT keywords.

Module 5: SQL Functions (Scalar & Aggregate)

• Scalar functions: CONCAT, UPPER, LOWER, LEN, ROUND.

• Aggregate functions: COUNT, SUM, AVG, MIN, MAX.

Day 2: Working with Joins, Grouping, and Data Modification

Module 6: GROUP BY and HAVING

• Purpose of GROUP BY.

• Combining GROUP BY with aggregate functions.

• Filtering groups using HAVING.

Module 7: Joining Tables

• Understanding table relationships.

• INNER JOIN.

• LEFT JOIN.

• RIGHT JOIN.

• FULL OUTER JOIN.

• Using table aliases.

Module 8: Basic Data Modification (DML)

• INSERT INTO.

• UPDATE.

• DELETE.

• Safety practices (WHERE importance).

Module 9: Creating Simple Database Objects

• Creating Tables.

• Understanding data types.

• Adding constraints (Primary Key, Default).