Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Databases

Chapter 8. SQL Basics

CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS:

• SQL Overview

• Select Statement

• Filter Results I: Use the Where Clause

• Organize Output I: Use the Order By Clause

• Combine Multiple Tables: Use the Join Statement

• Combine Multiple Resultsets: Use the Union Clause

• What You Have Learned

The first half of this book has focused on the design and construction of the database. The second half, which begins with this chapter, focuses on putting the database to work. Remember, the value of a database is measured by the usefulness of the information that can be extracted. This chapter and the next introduce a new language called the Structured Query Language, or SQL (pronounced sequel) for short. SQL is a database-independent language that allows you to query data and ...