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Introduction to SQL Server

In this section we will see what SQL database language is and its main characteristics as well as the SQL Server Management System, the advantages of the relational model and the main elements for the treatment of information: data types, tables and their components, key types and relationships. We will also provide a step-by-step guide for the installation and preparation of the environment

8 lessons 1 with examples you can run

  1. Introduction to SQL and SQL Server

    Introduction to SQL Server, famous as a relational database management system developed by Microsoft, based on the use of Transact-SQL, that expands the possibilities of standard SQL. Introduction to DDL, DML and DCL

  2. SQL, SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MySQL and SQLite: differences

    SQL is a language, and SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, SQLite and Oracle are databases that use it, each with its own dialect. What each one is, how their syntax differs and which SQL you learn in this course

    Runnable examples

  3. Installing SQL Server and SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)

    This section will serve as a guide to prepare the development environment. For this we will see step by step how to download, install and configure the free SQL Server Developer edition and after that the SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) tool

  4. SQL databases (relational databases)

    Introduction to Relational Databases (RDB) and the relational model. In this section we will delve into the main element that forms it: the tables with their fields, records and keys

  5. Data types in SQL Server

    There are many different data types that each field in a database table can hold. The purpose of this section is to classify and list each of them according to their main characteristics

  6. SQL database relationships

    In this section we will focus on explaining and exemplifying the different types of essential relationships in the administration of relational databases

  7. Entity Relationship Model (ERM)

    The Entity Relationship Model (ERM) is a data modeling diagram whose main function includes the graphic design and debugging of relational databases. In this section we will see its main components: entities, attributes and relationships

  8. Database normalization: 1NF, 2NF and 3NF

    Normalization organizes tables so that each piece of data is stored only once. We will see which problems it solves and how to apply the first, second and third normal forms step by step with an example

What you will learn in this section

Before writing your first query it helps to understand what you are working with. This section explains what SQL is, what Transact-SQL adds on top, and why SQL Server is one of the most widely used database management systems in business.

The path is:

  1. Introduction to SQL Server: what a DBMS is and where SQL fits in.
  2. SQL, SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MySQL and SQLite: how they differ and which SQL you learn here.
  3. Installing SQL Server and SSMS: the environment used throughout the course.
  4. Relational databases: tables, rows, columns and keys.
  5. Data types: which type to choose for each column and how much space it takes.
  6. Relationship types: one-to-one, one-to-many and many-to-many, with their Primary Key and Foreign Key.
  7. Entity-relationship model: how to go from a real problem to a table design.
  8. Normalization: the first, second and third normal forms, so each piece of data is stored only once.

Once you are done, the next step is creating your first database.