SQL Improvements in Snowflake (Masterclass Hands-On)

Name: SQL Improvements in Snowflake (Masterclass Hands-On)
Rating: 4.8 (2 reviews)

Learn modern and unusual SQL extension in the Snowflake AI Data Cloud, from world-class expert

Created byCristian Scutaru

Last updated 5/2026

English

What you'll learn

Important SQL extensions in Snowflake
Next evolution of the SQL language
Exciting use cases for AI/ML Snowflake Cortex additions
Object-oriented SQL, with built-in classes and instances
Inline lambda functions in SQL statements
Time travel and zero-copy cloning though Snowflake SQL
Brief introduction to Snowflake Scripting
Processing JSON data in Snowflake
ASOF, direct and fuzzy joins
Synthetic data generation in Snowflake
Processing tabular hierarchical data in Snowflake
CDC in data pipelines

Course content

17 sections • 138 lectures • 18h 21m total length

Promotional Video2:55
Explore a hands-on masterclass on sql improvements in Snowflake, featuring count_if, any_value, max_by, higher-order functions, sql classes, and inline lambdas for advanced joins and data manipulation.
Course Structure and Content10:59
Explore Snowflake SQL improvements from qualify, asof joins, and pipe operator to cortex and ml, organized around joins, aggregates, scripting, and machine learning.
About Your Instructor2:13
Cristian Scutaru brings deep Snowflake expertise as a former data superhero and SnowPro SME, with 10 of 11 SnowPro certifications, extensive course creation, and experience shaping certification exams.
How to Benefit Most from this Course3:29
Maximize learning in this Snowflake-focused SQL masterclass with hands-on exercises, slides, and GitHub code; set up a free Snowflake account and access PDFs and FAQs.
Frequently Asked Questions1:31

Introduction to Simplified Queries2:59
Learn simplified queries in Snowflake, set up a free trial, and explore Snowsight while mastering alias reuse, simplified joins, table functions, and keywords like exclude and ilike.
Create a Free Snowflake Trial Account14:25
Create a free Snowflake trial account at signup.snowflake.com, start a 30-day trial with US$400 in free credits, no credit card required, and explore the SnowSite UI, choosing enterprise on AWS.
Simplified Snowflake SQL10:33
Quick Tip: How to Pronounce "SQL"2:39
Simplified Joins11:29
Reused Expressions7:01
Table Functions11:25
Quick Tip: TABLE in the FROM Clause1:38
TABLE vs LATERAL8:44
Quick Tip: LATERAL and TABLE1:16
Include/Exclude Groups of Columns9:40
Test Your Knowledge

Introduction to Filters1:58
Limiting Data in SQL10:26
Filter Window Functions with QUALIFY15:26
Quick Tip: WHERE vs QUALIFY2:26
Case Insensitive Queries14:13
Regular Expressions14:02
Patterns with MATCH_RECOGNIZE12:07
Explore match-recognize in SQL to detect patterns in time-series data, such as price V-shapes, using pattern and define clauses with partition by and order by.
Full-Text SEARCH14:34
Discover Snowflake's full text search with the search function, specifying source columns and terms with optional analyzers and modes, data types like varchar and variant, and optional search optimization service.
Sort with NULLS FIRST/LAST7:31
Test Your Knowledge

Introduction to Joins1:37
Common Join Types20:16
LATERAL "Joins"16:27
Quick Tip: LATERAL is NOT a Join1:35
"Exploding" Joins9:23
ASOF Joins8:24
Fuzzy Matching11:21
Directed Joins7:45
Explore Snowflake's directed keyword for joins, learning how to enforce join order by directing table scans in inner and left joins, using orders, customers, and line item to demonstrate plans.
Test Your Knowledge

Introduction to Subqueries and CTEs1:55
Uncorrelated and Correlated Subqueries5:13
Subquery Operators9:53
Common Table Expressions (CTEs)6:47
Subqueries to CTEs11:31
Pipe Operator (->>)13:52
Learn how Snowflake's pipe operator (->>) chains multiple SQL statements, passing results via positional references ($1, $2) and bypassing CTEs, with use of temporary tables and result scan.
Quick Tip: SELECT/FROM Clauses with $1, $2, …2:25
Set Operators7:59
Union BY NAME8:18
Explore union by name in Snowflake: how union, distinct, and all interact with by name, star selects, and column alignment across queries, including null filling for mismatched columns.
Similarity Between Sets12:46
Test Your Knowledge

Introduction to Tabular Hierarchical Data1:35
Hierarchies from Tabular Metadata7:31
Fixed-Depth Data Hierarchies3:25
Variable-Depth Data Hierarchies3:37
Quick Tip: Structured/Semi-Structured Hierarchical Data0:52
CONNECT_BY Recursive Queries8:10
Recursive CTEs and Views6:50
Role Hierarchy with Recursive Queries11:39
Nested Transactions8:24
Quick Tip: There Are No Real NESTED Transactions1:15
Test Your Knowledge

Requirements

Knowledge of Basic SQL (This course is NOT for absolute beginners!)
Basic knowledge of relational databases
Optional basic experience with Snowflake (but not required)

Description

This is a Bible of the unusual Snowflake SQL improvements and extensions!

Snowflake continues to enhance SQL and make it easier to use. Are YOU aware of the new SQL additions? As you may need them in your job interviews, for your clients, to write better queries...

This is NOT a course for absolute beginners!

You must have some basic knowledge about SQL and relational databases. However, I tried to make everything easy to understand. Most lectures present hands-on exercises, with SQL code shared with you. The slideshow presentations will also be shared with you.

What you will learn about

Unusual SQL extensions in Snowflake, such as COUNT_IF, ANY_VALUE, MIN_BY, etc.
Bootcamp on Snowflake Scripting.
Processing of semi-structured data, in particular JSON.
Processing of tabular hierarchical data, with recursive queries.
Table functions, reused SQL expressions, filter with QUALIFY.
Lateral, ASOF, directed, "exploding" and fuzzy joins.
Emulation of many typical SQL clauses.
Advanced regex, pattern matching, and text search extensions.
Pipe operator (->>), spread operator (**), CTEs and subqueries.
Difference between transient, temporary, hybrid, and dynamic tables.
Advanced synthetic data generation.
Time travel and zero-copy cloning in Snowflake.
Similarity between sets.
Machine Learning classes, with several specific use cases.
Snowflake Cortex LLM and AISQL functions.
Vectorized Python UDFs, UDTFs, and UDAFs.
SQL and Python worksheets.

Who I am

Former Snowflake "Data Superhero".
Former SnowPro Certification SME (Subject Matter Expert) - many SnowPro exam questions have been created by me.
Passed most SnowPro certification exams, all from the first attempt.
Specialized in Snowflake for the past few years: I worked for Snowflake Partner companies. I served dozens of clients in this capacity or as an independent consultant. Today I share my knowledge with highly specialize courses on Snowflake.

This course truly offers a very in-depth immersion into all sorts of extensions to SQL Snowflake continues to come up with. Enroll today, and keep this course forever!

[Disclaimer: We are not affiliated with or endorsed by Snowflake, Inc.]

Who this course is for:

Data Analysts who want to learn specifics of the SQL in Snowflake
Data Engineers
SQL programmers and enthusiasts
Anyone interested in the next evolution of the SQL language

SQL Improvements in Snowflake (Masterclass Hands-On)

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Introduction5 lectures • 21min

Simplified Queries11 lectures • 1hr 22min

Filters9 lectures • 1hr 33min

Joins8 lectures • 1hr 17min

Aggregates9 lectures • 1hr 2min

Persisting Data8 lectures • 1hr 28min

Generating Data9 lectures • 1hr 28min

Subqueries and CTEs10 lectures • 1hr 21min

Grouping Data8 lectures • 1hr 2min

Tabular Hierarchical Data10 lectures • 53min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: