SQL Practice Problems: 57 beginning, intermediate, and advanced challenges for you to solve using a "learn-by-doing" approach

»»» NOTE: Used copies of this book are missing critical digital resources. «««

»»» Updated 2020 edition «««

The ability to write SQL is one of the most in-demand job skills. Are you prepared?

It's easy to find basic SQL syntax information online. What's hard to find is challenging, well-designed, real-world problems—the type of problems that come up when you're dealing with data. Learning how to solve these problems will give you the skill and confidence to step up in your career.

With SQL Practice Problems, you can get that level of experience by solving sets of targeted problems. These aren't just problems designed as syntax examples. These are the most common problems you encounter when you deal with data.

You will get real world practice, with real world data. I'll teach you how to “think” in SQL, how to analyze data problems, figure out the fundamentals, and work towards a solution that you can be proud of.

Can I run SQL Practice Problems on a Mac? No, it requires a computer with Microsoft Windows. I also offer a Professional package at SQLPracticeProblems.com which is suitable for both Windows and Mac.

How important is the real-life, hands-on problem solving that you can find in SQL Practice Problems?

You can watch videos online that will walk you through various aspects of databases, and SQL. And you can read up on SQL syntax and keywords, and review sample code.

But...to really absorb and be able to apply your learning, you need to solve real-world problems. Being presented with a SQL problem, and working through that problem (with hints, if necessary) will help you understand and remember like nothing else.

What do you get when you buy SQL Practice Problems?

• • Setup instructions for Microsoft SQL Server Express Edition and SQL Server Management Studio (Microsoft Windows required). Both are free downloads.
  • A customized practice database, with a video walk-through on setting it up.
  • Practice problems - 57 problems that you work through, step-by-step. There are targeted hints if you need them, which help guide you through the question.
  • Answers and a short, targeted discussion section on each question, with alternative answers and tips on usage and good programming practice.

What does SQL Practice Problems not contain?

• Complex descriptions of syntax. There's just what you need, and no more.
• The differences between every single SQL variant (MS SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, etc). The practice problems are set up with Microsoft SQL Server, and the differences are minor and easy to find online.
• Details on Insert, Update and Delete statements. The hardest thing to learn in SQL is how to write Select statements that return complex data. Other components of SQL are relatively easy.

From customer reviews:
"Probably the most useful technical book I've used! Challenging problems with appropriate hints - use as needed. She should be writing other books."
- A. J.

"I have numerous books on SQL, and have taken courses from people with lots of experience with data and SQL. Alas, knowing the material is not the same as being able to present it clearly and in digestible bites. Obviously, you have that knack. I have learned things from your book that nobody ever showed me before. I sincerely hope that you will write more books."
- H. V

"I am starting from scratch, all self-taught so far in SQL, and was picking up the syntax and wording, but I could not find anything to give me real world application and scenarios. This book changed that! Great book, great problems, really makes you think."
-M.G.

Do you need to learn SQL for your job?

The ability to write SQL and work with data is one of the most in-demand job skills. Are you prepared?

It's easy to find basic SQL syntax and keyword information online. What's hard to find is challenging, well-designed, real-world problems--the type of problems that come up all the time when you're dealing with data. Learning how to solve these problems will give you the skill and confidence to step up in your career.
With SQL Practice Problems, you can get that level of experience by solving sets of targeted problems. These aren't just problems designed to give an example of specific syntax. These are the most common problems you encounter when you deal with data.

You will get real world practice, with real world data. I'll teach you how to "think" in SQL, how to analyze data problems, figure out the fundamentals, and work towards a solution that you can be proud of. It contains challenging problems, which develop your ability to write high quality SQL code.

What do you get when you buy SQL Practice Problems?

• Setup instructions for MS SQL Server Express Edition 2016 and SQL Server Management Studio 2016 (MS Windows required). Both are free downloads.
• A customized sample database, with a video walk-through on setting it up.
• Practice problems - 57 problems that you work through step-by-step. There are targeted hints if you need them, which help guide you through the question. For the more complex questions, there are multiple levels of hints.
• Answers and a short, targeted discussion section on each question, with alternative answers and tips on usage and good programming practice.

What does SQL Practice Problems not contain?

• Complex descriptions of syntax. There's just what you need, and no more.
• A discussion of differences between every single SQL variant (MS SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL). That information takes just a few seconds to find online.
• Details on Insert, Update and Delete statements. That's important to know eventually, but first you need experience writing intermediate and advanced Select statements to return the data you want from a relational database.

Can I run SQL Practice Problems on a Mac? This book usually requires a computer with MS Windows, because MS SQL Server does not have a Mac version. But, if you're familiar with using virtual machines and Docker, you can run MS SQL Server on a Mac. I don't provide instructions on this method, but you can easily find it online.If you have a Mac and prefer to use MySQL instead of MS SQL Server, I also offer a professional package on my site SQLPracticeProblems.com. The professional package comes with the MySQL version, as well as another problem set.

What kind of problems are there in SQL Practice Problems? The problems in SQL Practice Problems are oriented towards data analysis and reporting. They are designed to step you through introductory, intermediate and advanced SQL Select statements, with a learn-by-doing technique.

Most textbooks and courses have some practice problems. But most often, they're used just to illustrate a particular syntax. There's no filtering on what's most useful, and what the most common issues are. What you'll get with SQL Practice Problems is the problems that illustrate some the most common challenges you'll run into with data, and the best, most useful techniques to solve them.