SQL is the acronym for Structured Query Language, which is the standard language for managing relational databases, such as SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MariaDB and MySQL . Having a good knowledge of SQL is imperative for back-end developers who need to work with a relational database management system (RDBMS).
With SQL, you can insert, delete, update and search data stored in a relational database. Also, there are several other operations that you can perform on the databases by leveraging SQL.
Now, if you have little to no knowledge of SQL, you may be wondering where to get started. Well, we have curated a list of the best SQL courses that you can take to boost your knowledge of SQL. Most of these courses will help you develop a clear understanding of various SQL concepts. Also, there are some advanced-level courses too that you can choose if you want to take your knowledge of SQL to the next level.
So, without further ado, let’s talk about the best SQL courses!
10 Best Courses to Learn SQL
Following are the 10 most popular SQL courses that can help you gain in-depth insights into the working of SQL.
1. The Complete SQL Bootcamp: Go from Zero to Hero
Course Provider - Udemy
Duration - 9+ hours
This SQL course created by Jose Portilla is the most popular SQL course on Udemy, with 134K+ ratings. It is a perfect course for individuals who wish to learn SQL right from the start. One added advantage that you get with this course is that you can also get familiar with the basics of data analysis.
More interestingly, there are no prerequisites to take this course. You only need a working computer and the zeal to learn and master SQL. By opting for this SQL course, you will get access to 9 hours of on-demand video tutorials, 14 articles, and 13 downloadable resources.
After going through this course, you will learn:
- How to use SQL to query databases.
- The basics of SQL syntax.
- Data analysis with SQL.
- The basics of PostgreSQL and PgAdmin.
- String operations and comparison operations to perform advanced queries.
- Commonly use SQL JOIN commands.
2. The Ultimate MySQL Bootcamp: Go from SQL Beginner to Expert
Course Provider - Udemy
Duration - 20+ hours
This is yet another SQL course offered by Udemy that can teach you all the fundamentals of SQL. In fact, as its name suggests, you can take this course to even become an SQL master. The Ultimate MySQL Bootcamp: Go from SQL Beginner to Expert is a joint effort of two professionals, namely Colt Steele and Ian Schoonover. While Colt is a professional developer and Bootcamp instructor, Ian is a full-stack developer and coding instructor.
One key reason for the extended popularity of this course is that it covers a wide range of SQL concepts. You can easily learn these concepts with the help of video lectures and put them into use by working on multiple projects. Also, you can involve yourself in the practical exercises and challenges throughout the course to test your knowledge.
This course covers the following topics:
- SQL syntax
- Use of logical operators and string functions to run complex queries
- SQL Joins
- Database and Tables Creation
- Database Schemas Design and Implementation
- CRUD operations
3. SQL for Data Science
Course Provider - Coursera
Duration - 14 hours (approximately)
If you are completely new to SQL, this course offered by Coursera will help you get acquainted with the fundamentals of SQL. Additionally, you will get to know how to use SQL for data science.
The course is carefully crafted by UC Davis (University of California, Davis) for beginners who want to learn the ins and outs of SQL. The instructor for this course is Sadie St. Lawrence, who is the founder and CEO of a non-profit organization named Women in Data. Also, she has trained well over 70K individuals in Data Science.
The SQL for Data Science is among the best SQL courses for novices. It introduces you to all the basic terminology and concepts of SQL that you need to write queries. Moreover, it will help you understand how to interact with a relational database and manipulate the data stored in tables.
After completing this course, you will gain in-depth knowledge of the following topics:
- Data models
- Basic and advanced filtering with SQL
- Math operations
- Aggregate functions
- Subqueries
- SQL Joins
- SQL commands for filtering, summarizing, and sorting data
4. An Introductory Guide to SQL
Course Provider - Educative
Duration - 13 hours
This course offered by Educative.io will help you learn SQL in an interactive way. It provides a hands-on coding environment to ensure that whatever you learn through tutorials, you practice it along the way. The course is divided into 11 modules to make it easy for you to make progress while learning SQL concepts. Apart from 98 lessons, this course includes 73 quizzes and 336 illustrations.
An Introductory Guide to SQL is intended for newbies. It can help you learn how to create a database and perform simple queries to insert, search, and update data. Moreover, you will also learn concepts like nested queries and multi-table operations that professional developers and data scientists use to accomplish their everyday tasks.
Some of the important topics that this SQL course covers are as follows:
- Relational vs non-relational database
- Basic SQL Operations
- Joins
- Nested Queries
- Views
- Stored Procedures
- Trigger
5. Introduction to SQL
Course Provider - Pluralsight
Duration - 3+ hours
Pluralsight is a reliable name when it comes to online learning. It offers multiple SQL courses, with Introduction to SQL being one of its most popular courses. This course will educate you on how to use SQL to interact with relational databases and the data stored in them.
To facilitate effective learning, the course is divided into 8 sections. Also, each section comprises multiple video lessons that you can watch at your own pace and replay in case you missed out on some information. As this course is utterly suitable for beginners, there’s no prerequisite of previous knowledge of SQL to get started. However, having a basic understanding of computer programming can help you pick up things quickly.
One of the best things about this course is its short duration, which is nearly 3 hours. Thus, it becomes possible for you to get acquainted with SQL basics in a short time span and start implementing them in real-world projects.
The following are the topics this course covers:
- The Relational model
- Basic SQL commands
- Use of SELECT statement to query data
- Filter query results
- Usage of SQL Joins
6. Code School: Try SQL
Course Provider - Pluralsight
Duration - 40 minutes
This is a short SQL course that is also offered by Pluralsight. It is ideal for you if you want to get a quick overview of the relational database and SQL basics. It will help you learn how to use SQL to work with a relational database and add, delete, and query data.
If you want to work with databases and learn how to store and retrieve data seamlessly with SQL, this course is a great option. The author of this course is Chari Clark, who is a professional database administrator with extensive knowledge of several database systems.
This 40-minute course is quite short compared to other SQL courses featured on this list, but it effectively covers all the essentials that you need to start working with relational databases using SQL.
Some of the key topics covered in Code School: Try SQL are as follows:
- Introduction to SQL
- Add and remove data
- How to create and delete databases as well as tables
- Manipulation of tables
7. Complete SQL Mastery
Course Provider - Code with Mosh
Duration - 11 hours
Complete SQL Mastery is a comprehensive course that can help you understand all the concepts required to design and manage relational databases. This course is a go-to choice for computer students who want to pursue a career in data administration, individuals who want to work as back-end developers and data scientists, and SQL developers looking to boost their knowledge of SQL.
One remarkable highlight of this SQL course is that you can learn and master SQL even if you have zero knowledge of databases and their working. It covers all the essential topics that one must know to start working with databases and SQL.
Code with Mosh is a popular online platform that offers a variety of courses. When it comes to Complete SQL Mastery, the instructor for this course is Mosh Hamedani, who has expertise in software engineering. With his decades of experience, he can teach even complex concepts in a simple and understandable manner.
At the end of the course, you will develop an understanding of the following topics:
- SQL basics
- How to create a database
- SELECT and WHERE clause
- SQL Joins
- Unions
8. Excel to MySQL: Analytic Techniques for Business Specialization
Course Provider - Coursera
Duration - 7 months (4hrs/week)
The next up on this list of the best SQL courses is Excel to MySQL: Analytic Techniques for Business Specialization, which is available on Coursera. This course is offered by Duke University, and it is ideal for anyone who wants to learn how to process data to benefit a business. Moreover, it gives detailed insights into the SQL fundamentals. You will learn how to leverage MySQL to manage big data.
In general, Excel to MySQL: Analytic Techniques for Business Specialization is a specialization that comprises 5 different courses that are listed below:
- Business Metrics for Data-Driven Companies
- Mastering Data Analysis in Excel
- Data Visualization and Communication with Tableau
- Managing Big Data with MySQL
- Increasing Real Estate Management Profits: Harnessing Data Analytics
Also, Coursera provides you the flexibility to enroll yourself in a particular course available within the specialization. If you are not that much interested in data analysis, you can simply opt for the Managing Big Data with MySQL course, which is a part of this specialization.
9. Learn SQL
Course Provider - Codecademy
Duration - 8 hours
Learn SQL is a dedicated SQL course offered by Codecademy that you can take if you want to enhance your knowledge of SQL. By taking this course, you will be able to learn how SQL works with relational databases to manage data effectively. Today, with the rising use of databases to store digital data, SQL has become a skill that is in high demand. Learn SQL course by Codecademy can provide you with all the knowledge that you need to write and understand database queries written in SQL.
Apart from sharing theoretical knowledge of SQL concepts, this course also focuses on the practical implementation of those concepts by involving you in 4 different projects. Moreover, there are multiple quizzes included in the course to help you keep a check on everything that you learn.
Here are some topics that this course covers:
- Data manipulation
- Queries in SQL
- Aggregate functions
- Interaction with multiple tables
10. Learn SQL Using PostgreSQL: From Zero to Hero
Course Provider - Udemy
Duration - 16+ hours
This SQL course is the best choice if you are planning to work with PostgreSQL relational database management system. All the SQL concepts discussed in this course are demonstrated using the PostgreSQL databases. Also, Learn SQL Using PostgreSQL: From Zero to Hero is one such course that can help you learn basic as well as advanced SQL concepts.
The instructor of this course, Will Bunker, is the co-founder of a company name Match.com. He is also among the top-rated instructors on Udemy, with an average rating of 4.4 stars. To help you understand the content of this SQL course effectively, he has divided the complete course into 35 small sections. Also, each section focuses on discussing different aspects of SQL and PostgreSQL.
Following are some of the topics covered in this course:
- PostgreSQL installation on different systems
- Selection of data in a database
- WHERE clause
- Basics of Schemas
- SELECT Statements
- Grouping and aggregation functions
To Sum it Up All
The demand for SQL developers is quite high in the job market. Adding SQL to your skillset is a great idea if you are willing to work as a back-end developer, data scientist, data analyst, or database administrator.
If you want to learn SQL so that you can use it in real-world applications, you can go for one of the best SQL courses listed above. However, it’s important to choose a SQL course that covers all the topics that you care about and, at the same time, meets your budget.
Along with the aforementioned SQL courses, you can also consider reading some of the best SQL books to gain in-depth insights into the subject.
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