SQL for Beginners: First Simple Database & Queries (Free)

This article introduces the database development concepts used throughout the course section.

You will learn about:

• Data Definition Language (DDL)

• Creating and modifying database structures

• The relationship between databases, schemas, and tables

• Core DDL statements such as CREATE, ALTER, and DROP

• ANSI SQL and T-SQL fundamentals

• The structure that will be built throughout the workshops

The article also outlines the workshops included in this section and explains how each workshop builds on the previous one using the SweetShop database project.

By the end of this section, you will have created a database, schema, table, and primary key constraint using T-SQL in SQL Server.

This workshop introduces the CREATE DATABASE statement in T-SQL and demonstrates how to create a database called SweetShop in SQL Server.

You will learn how to:

• Create a database using the CREATE DATABASE statement

• Understand what the GO keyword does in SQL Server scripts

• Verify that a database exists before moving forward

• Switch database context using the USE statement

• Confirm the active database using the DB_NAME() function

• Understand what database context means in SQL Server

The workshop also introduces foundational concepts such as structural commands, system databases, SQL functions, and verification habits when working with SQL Server.

By the end of the workshop, you will have created your first database, confirmed it exists, and switched your session into it using T-SQL.

A downloadable SQL workshop script is included with this lecture for practice and reference. Please see the resources section to download the file.

This workshop introduces schemas in SQL Server and demonstrates how to create a schema called Inventory inside the SweetShop database using T-SQL.

You will learn how to:

• Switch database context using USE

• Create a schema with CREATE SCHEMA

• Verify schema creation using sys.schemas

• Understand the purpose of schemas in a relational database

The workshop also explains how schemas organise database objects and introduces the relationship between databases, schemas, and tables within SQL Server.

By the end of this workshop, you will have created and verified your first schema in SQL Server using T-SQL.

A downloadable SQL workshop script is included with this lecture for practice and reference. Please see the resources section to download the file.

This workshop introduces the CREATE TABLE statement in T-SQL and demonstrates how to create your first table inside the Inventory schema within the SweetShop database.

You will learn how to:

• Create a table using CREATE TABLE

• Define columns and data types

• Use schema-qualified table names

• Understand INT and VARCHAR data types

• Verify table creation using T-SQL

The workshop also explains how tables are structured, how column definitions work, and why schemas must exist before tables can be created.

By the end of this workshop, you will have created and verified your first table in SQL Server using T-SQL.

A downloadable SQL workshop script is included with this lecture for practice and reference. Please see the resources section to download the file.

This workshop introduces the ALTER TABLE statement in T-SQL and demonstrates how to modify the structure of an existing table inside the Inventory schema within the SweetShop database.

You will learn how to:

• Add new columns to an existing table

• Use the ALTER TABLE and ADD statements

• Work with DECIMAL and DATETIME2 data types

• Understand how table structure changes affect existing tables

• Verify column changes using T-SQL

The workshop also demonstrates how SQL Server responds to invalid structural changes, including attempts to add duplicate columns.

By the end of this workshop, you will have extended the structure of the Inventory.Sweets table using T-SQL.

A downloadable SQL workshop script is included with this lecture for practice and reference. Please see the resources section to download the file.

This workshop introduces primary key constraints in SQL Server and demonstrates how to recreate the Inventory.Sweets table with a primary key using T-SQL.

You will learn how to:

• Remove an existing table using DROP TABLE IF EXISTS

• Recreate a table with CREATE TABLE

• Apply PRIMARY KEY and NOT NULL constraints

• Understand how PRIMARY KEY and NOT NULL constraints enforce data integrity

• Verify table structure using T-SQL

The workshop also explains the purpose of constraints, the role of primary keys in relational databases, and how SQL Server enforces data integrity automatically.

By the end of this workshop, you will have recreated the Inventory.Sweets table with a fully enforced primary key constraint using T-SQL.

A downloadable SQL workshop script is included with this lecture for practice and reference. Please see the resources section to download the file.

This lecture contains practical exercises and challenges designed to reinforce the database development concepts covered throughout this section.

You will practise creating databases, schemas, and tables, modifying table structures, implementing primary key constraints, and verifying database objects using T-SQL.

The exercises are designed to be completed in sequence, allowing you to apply the same techniques demonstrated in the workshops while developing confidence through independent execution and problem solving.

A separate Answers & Solutions lecture is provided in the next lecture. Attempt each exercise independently before reviewing the solutions.

Before reviewing the solutions, it is strongly recommended that you read the Exercises & Challenges article first. It introduces the exercise format, challenge expectations, and general guidance that will be useful throughout this course.

This lecture contains the answers and solutions for the Database Development exercises and challenges section.

The downloadable solutions file provides one possible approach for completing each exercise and challenge, allowing you to validate your work, identify mistakes, and compare your approach against a working solution.

Students are strongly encouraged to attempt every exercise independently before reviewing the solutions. The goal is not simply to reproduce the correct answer, but to develop confidence through practice, experimentation, and problem solving using T-SQL.

Before reviewing the solutions, it is strongly recommended that you read the Exercises & Challenges article first. It introduces the exercise format, challenge expectations, and general guidance that will be useful throughout this course.

This article introduces Data Manipulation Language (DML) and the core SQL statements used to work with data inside a table.

You will learn about:

• INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE statements

• How data is added, changed, and removed

• The difference between DDL and DML

• Working with rows inside a table

• The purpose and importance of the WHERE clause

• How SQL Server applies changes to stored data

The article also explains how DML statements affect existing rows within the Inventory.Sweets table inside the SweetShop database project used throughout the course.

By the end of this article, you will understand how SQL Server manages data changes using T-SQL statements.

This workshop introduces the INSERT INTO statement in T-SQL and demonstrates how to add rows to the Inventory.Sweets table inside the SweetShop database.

You will learn how to:

• Insert data into a table using INSERT INTO

• Work with single-line and multi-line INSERT statements

• Match column lists with values correctly

• Insert text, numeric, decimal, and date values

• Use the GETDATE() function to capture the current date and time

• Verify inserted data using SELECT

The workshop also demonstrates how SQL Server enforces primary key constraints by rejecting duplicate values during an INSERT operation.

By the end of this workshop, you will have inserted and verified data inside the Inventory.Sweets table using T-SQL.

A downloadable SQL workshop script is included with this lecture for practice and reference. Please see the resources section to download the file.

This workshop introduces the UPDATE statement in T-SQL and demonstrates how to modify existing rows inside the Inventory.Sweets table within the SweetShop database.

You will learn how to:

• Update existing values using UPDATE and SET

• Target specific rows using the WHERE clause

• Modify single and multiple columns in one statement

• Update date values using GETDATE()

• Understand the importance of rows affected messages

• Verify data changes using SELECT

The workshop also demonstrates how SQL Server behaves when an UPDATE statement targets rows that do not exist and explains why validating WHERE clauses is important when modifying data.

By the end of this workshop, you will be able to update existing data confidently using T-SQL statements in SQL Server.

A downloadable SQL workshop script is included with this lecture for practice and reference. Please see the resources section to download the file.

This workshop introduces the DELETE statement in T-SQL and demonstrates how to remove rows from the Inventory.Sweets table inside the SweetShop database.

You will learn how to:

• Delete specific rows using DELETE and WHERE

• Remove all rows from a table using DELETE without a WHERE clause

• Use multi-row INSERT statements to repopulate data

• Understand the difference between DELETE and DROP

• Verify table contents using SELECT

• Interpret rows affected messages after DELETE operations

The workshop also demonstrates how SQL Server behaves when a DELETE statement targets rows that do not exist and reinforces the importance of validating WHERE clauses before removing data.

By the end of this workshop, you will be able to remove and verify data confidently using DELETE statements in T-SQL.

A downloadable SQL workshop script is included with this lecture for practice and reference. Please see the resources section to download the file.

Article & Download – Practice the INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE concepts covered in the Data Manipulation section through a series of structured exercises and independent challenges. The attached download guides you through inserting, updating, deleting, and verifying data inside the Inventory.Sweets table while reinforcing key concepts such as WHERE clauses, rows affected messages, error handling, and independent problem solving using T-SQL.

The exercises in this section may modify the data contained within your practice database. As a result, some result sets shown in later workshops may differ from those demonstrated in the videos. This is expected behaviour and reflects changes made to your own learning environment.

Article & Download – Review one possible set of working answers for the exercises and challenges completed in the Data Manipulation section. Use the attached solutions file to validate your work, compare approaches, and reinforce the INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE concepts covered throughout the workshops. Students are strongly encouraged to attempt every exercise independently before reviewing the solutions.

The exercises in this section may modify the data contained within your practice database. As a result, some result sets shown in later workshops may differ from those demonstrated in the videos. This is expected behaviour and reflects changes made to your own learning environment.

This article introduces Data Query Language (DQL) and the SELECT statement used to retrieve data from tables in SQL Server.

You will learn about:

• The purpose of the SELECT statement

• Reading data without modifying it

• The role of SELECT, FROM, WHERE, and ORDER BY clauses

• The structure and behaviour of a basic SQL query

• How SQL Server processes a query

• The purpose of result sets

The article also explains how querying differs from DDL and DML operations and introduces the concepts that will be used throughout the Querying Data section.

By the end of this article, you will understand the foundational concepts required to begin retrieving, filtering, and sorting data using SELECT statements in SQL Server.

This workshop introduces the SELECT statement in T-SQL and demonstrates how to retrieve data from the Inventory.Sweets table inside the SweetShop database.

You will learn how to:

• Retrieve all rows and columns using SELECT *

• Select specific columns from a table

• Return a single column from a result set

• Use the FROM clause to identify a data source

• Understand how result sets are structured

• Execute read-only queries without modifying data

The workshop also explains the difference between selecting all columns and selecting only the columns required, and demonstrates how column selection affects the structure of a result set.

By the end of this workshop, you will be able to retrieve all data, selected columns, and individual columns from a table using basic SELECT statements in T-SQL.

A downloadable SQL workshop script is included with this lecture for practice and reference. Please see the resources section to download the file.

This workshop demonstrates how to retrieve specific columns from the Inventory.Sweets table using SELECT statements in T-SQL.

You will learn how to:

• Return selected columns instead of using SELECT *

• Choose different column combinations from the same table

• Control the order of columns in a result set

• Understand how the SELECT list affects query output

• Read data without modifying the underlying table

The workshop also explains how SQL Server returns only the columns requested in the SELECT statement while leaving the stored data unchanged, and demonstrates how column selection is independent of the order in which columns were defined in the table.

By the end of this workshop, you will be able to write SELECT statements that return precise columns from a table using T-SQL.

A downloadable SQL workshop script is included with this lecture for practice and reference. Please see the resources section to download the file.

This workshop introduces column and table aliases in T-SQL and demonstrates how aliases can improve the readability of SELECT statements and query results.

You will learn how to:

• Apply column aliases using the AS keyword

• Create aliases without using AS

• Understand how aliases affect result set headings

• Use table aliases in the FROM clause

• Reference columns using dot notation

The workshop also explains the difference between column aliases and table aliases, and reinforces that aliases are temporary labels that improve query readability without modifying the underlying database structure.

By the end of this workshop, you will be able to write clearer and more readable SELECT statements using aliases in T-SQL.

A downloadable SQL workshop script is included with this lecture for practice and reference. Please see the resources section to download the file.

This workshop introduces the COUNT aggregate function in T-SQL and demonstrates how to count rows inside the Inventory.Sweets table within the SweetShop database.

You will learn how to:

• Count all rows using COUNT(*)

• Apply aliases to aggregate expressions

• Combine COUNT with WHERE clauses

• Filter rows before counting

• Understand how aggregate functions return summary results

The workshop also explains how COUNT differs from standard SELECT queries and introduces the concept of aggregate functions in SQL Server.

By the end of this workshop, you will be able to count and filter rows confidently using COUNT statements in T-SQL.

A downloadable SQL workshop script is included with this lecture for practice and reference. Please see the resources section to download the file.

This workshop introduces the WHERE clause in T-SQL and demonstrates how to filter rows returned from the Inventory.Sweets table inside the SweetShop database.

You will learn how to:

• Filter rows using the WHERE clause

• Use comparison operators such as =, >, <, and >=

• Filter text, numeric, and date values

• Combine multiple conditions using AND

• Return more precise result sets from a table

The workshop also explains how SQL Server evaluates filtering conditions and reinforces the difference between returning all rows and returning only rows that satisfy specific criteria.

By the end of this workshop, you will be able to write SELECT statements that filter data using WHERE conditions in T-SQL.

A downloadable SQL workshop script is included with this lecture for practice and reference. Please see the resources section to download the file.

Article & Download – Practise the SELECT concepts covered throughout the Querying Data section through a series of structured exercises and independent challenges. The attached download guides you through retrieving, filtering, sorting, counting, and validating data using the same techniques demonstrated throughout the workshops. The exercises reinforce SELECT, WHERE, COUNT, aliases, and result set interpretation while encouraging independent problem solving using T-SQL.

Article & Download - Review the answers and solutions provided for the exercises and challenges completed in the Querying Data section. Use the attached solutions file to validate your work, compare approaches, and reinforce the SELECT concepts covered throughout the workshops.

The solutions demonstrate one structured approach to meeting the exercise requirements. Your queries do not need to match the solutions exactly. If your statements satisfy the requirements and return the expected results, your approach may be equally valid.

Students are strongly encouraged to attempt every exercise independently before reviewing the solutions.

This article introduces the Additional Extended Practice Domain SQL Projects section and explains how the downloadable exercises and solutions should be used.

You will learn:

• The purpose of the domain projects

• How the projects reinforce concepts taught throughout the course

• The recommended approach for completing the exercises

• How to use the accompanying solutions files

• What knowledge is expected before starting the projects

The article also explains how each domain introduces a different business scenario while using the same SQL and T-SQL concepts covered throughout the course.

By the end of this article, you will understand how to approach the domain projects and use them effectively to build confidence and practical experience.

Build the GameVault database from scratch. Create two tables for Games and Publishers, populate them, fix a duplicate entry, correct a price, and query both tables using SELECT, WHERE, aliases, and COUNT.

Complete solutions for all GameVault tasks, including T-SQL for database creation, table design, INSERT, DELETE, UPDATE, and SELECT — with commentary explaining each step and the reflection answers.

Build the PageTurner database from scratch. Create two tables for Books and Authors, populate them, remove a duplicate entry, correct a price, and query both tables using SELECT, WHERE, aliases, and COUNT.

Complete solutions for all PageTurner tasks — database creation, table design, INSERT, DELETE, UPDATE, and SELECT — with commentary and full reflection answers.

Build the BeanScene database from scratch. Create two tables for Drinks and Beans, populate them, remove a duplicate, correct a price, and query both tables using SELECT, WHERE, aliases, and COUNT.

Complete solutions for all BeanScene tasks — database creation, table design, INSERT, DELETE, UPDATE, and SELECT — with commentary and full reflection answers.

Build the SliceHouse database from scratch. Create two tables for Pizzas and Toppings, populate them, remove a duplicate, correct a price, and query both tables using SELECT, WHERE, aliases, and COUNT.

Complete solutions for all SliceHouse tasks — database creation, table design, INSERT, DELETE, UPDATE, and SELECT — with commentary and full reflection answers.

Build the PawsFirst database from scratch. Create two tables for Services and Products, populate them, remove a duplicate, correct a price, and query both tables using SELECT, WHERE, aliases, and COUNT.

Complete solutions for all PawsFirst tasks — database creation, table design, INSERT, DELETE, UPDATE, and SELECT — with commentary and full reflection answers.

Article & Download - Apply the querying concepts covered throughout the course across the database domains included in the Additional Extended Practice Domain SQL Projects section. The attached challenge file contains a series of practical SQL exercises focused exclusively on data retrieval using SELECT, WHERE, aliases, COUNT, and ORDER BY. No new SQL concepts are introduced. The objective is to reinforce existing skills through repetition, pattern recognition, and independent problem solving.

Article & Download - Review the answers and solutions provided for the Cross-Domain Query Challenges. Use the attached solutions file to validate your work, compare approaches, and reinforce the querying concepts covered throughout the course while working across multiple database domains.

This lecture reviews the key concepts covered throughout the course, including database development, data manipulation, and basic querying techniques using T-SQL in SQL Server.

This lecture explains the recommended next steps for continuing your SQL and T-SQL learning journey, including progression into more advanced database development and querying topics.

This lecture provides background information about the instructor, including professional experience, teaching approach, and the goals behind the SQL for Beginners course series.

This lecture outlines the usage terms, copyright guidance, and permitted use of the course materials, downloadable resources, and workshop scripts provided throughout the course.

This downloadable resource contains the SQL workshop scripts used throughout the course, allowing you to practise, review, and repeat the demonstrations independently within SQL Server.