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How You Can Master the Fundamentals of Transact-SQL

A Real World Introduction to Transact-SQL

Created byMike West

Last updated 4/2025

English

What you'll learn

At the conclusion of this course you'll have a fundamental understanding of Transact-SQL.
You'll learn the 4 components of every query.
You'll also learn the difference between DML and DDL and when to use each.

Course content

6 sections • 49 lectures • 2h 5m total length

Welcome To The Course1:17
Let's find out what's in this course.
Is this Course Right For You?1:07
I want to make sure you are at the right place.

This lecture will discuss if this course is right for you.
A Quick Look at Objects5:08
What is the definition of a database?

What is different about what it is versus what it does?

Let's find out in this lecture
Installing SQL Server Express Edition7:32
We are going to need to install SQL Server. Let's install the express edition of SQL Server.
Installing Adventureworks Training Database3:33
Once SQL Server is installed we need a test database to learn with.

Let's install that in the lesson.
Working With SQL Server Management Studio7:48
The main tools developers and DBAs use to manage their database environments.
The Query Editor2:39
We need a place to author our transact.

The query editor is the place we do that.

Let's learn about it in this lesson.
Terminology0:26
We need to be able to speak the language of SQL Server.

These new words will help us get there.
Summary0:53
Quiz

A Query is Like a Sentence1:01
Let's take a very high level look at the anatomy of a query.
DML VS DDL1:14
There are two broad categories of Transact-SQL.

DDL and DML.

Let's define them in this lecture.
Use Statement2:23
The USE statement sets our database context.

Let's see it in action in this lesson.
The Table Object3:05
The core object in SQL Server is the table.

Let's learn about it in this lecture.
Inserting Data Into a Table7:31
Let's put some data into a table.

The INSERT statement in action.
Important Summary1:23
Let's go over that last lecture in more detail.

There were some "must know" concepts in there.
How do Tables Relate?6:04
Relational databases... relate... but how?

Let's find out.
Formatting and Commenting5:28
In lecture let's add some comments to our code so other know what we are doing.
Data Definition Language3:48
Let's define DDL and discuss it in more detail.
Creating Our First Stored Procedure2:39
All applications should be using stored procedure.

Let's talk about them in this lesson.
Input Parameters3:05
Let's see how we use input parameters in our stored procedures.
Create Stored Procedure for Inserts2:20
Let's create a simple stored procedure to INSERT data into a simple table.
Terminology0:34
Let's cover some of the new terms.
Summary1:16
Let's recap what we've covered in this lesson.
Quiz

Anatomy of a SELECT Statement2:15
Let's cover the very basics of the SELECT statement.
Schemas2:35
Let's talk about these containers.
Column Aliasing0:45
In this lecture let's give our column names we want.
Derived Column1:20
You can create a column on the fly in SQL Server. Let's see how.
Using the DATEDIFF function2:15
Working with dates in fundamental in T-SQL.

Let's look at one of the functions we use to manipulate dates.
Creating a View2:53
Views are often used to hide the tables structure and prevent direct access.

Let's create one in this lesson.
Basic Comparison Operators2:29
We compare items in T-SQL.

Let's find out what words do that work for us.
The Like Clause3:35
A great clause that's not to relevant due to the performance implications.

Let's look at LIKE.
Logical Comparisons2:29
What are logical comparisons.

Let's learn what they are and how to use them in this lecture.
The NULL3:19
The infamous NULL value.

Let's talk about what it is and what it isn't.
Extended Filtering3:11
How do we filter our queries.

Let's find out.
Filtering With Parenthesis1:06
Adding parenthesis to filtering.
Summary0:51
Let's wrap up what we've covered.
Quiz

Anatomy of a Function3:02
We will use functions often.

What is a function?

Let's find out.
User Defined Function2:32
There are different kinds of functions.

What's a UDF?
Inline Table-Valued Function1:35
A function that returns a table.

Let's look at this unique function.
Multi-Statement Table Valued User Defined Functions1:34
A more complicated function.
Aggregate Functions2:27
Let's learn how to use aggregate functions.

You'll use these often.
Count(ALL) Versus Count(Distinct)1:50
I subtle distinction in these two but a really important one.
Conversion Functions1:56
You'll use conversion functions in almost every stored procedure you craft.

Let's learn what they are.
Summary1:01
Let's wrap up what we've covered in this section.
Quiz

Requirements

You'll need to download a copy of SQL Server Express. However, don't do it now. We will do this early in the course.
You'll need a copy of the SQL Server *play* database. Again, don't worry about that now. We will do that before we really dig into the course.

Description

COURSE REVIEWS:

"This is a great course- I would fully recommend completing it. Course highlights: Great tip on using design view when using joins as this can help define which column you should be joining on. End of module summary/terminology which you can print out for future reference and use End of module quiz Thank you very much!" -- Benjamin

"Finest experience with Udemy they explain each and everything so clearly." -- Manu

"I needed a quick introduction into T-SQL, and that's exactly what I got. A lot of useful information in a short period of time. Great course!" -- Olga

"Great Instructor" -- Kolawole

"An amazing course!" --Alfred

"The course is great for beginners." --Shelli

"Amazing experience. got clear idea about how db works and store procedure. Thank you very much, Mike." -- Ujjawal

"A great introduction to T-SQL. It's amazing that instruction of this quality is available for free. Many thanks." -- IP

"Short but covers a lot." -- Tamuka

"Great." -- Ketan

"It was a quick course, but a lot was covered." -- Brandon

"Thank you Mike! I love the course, it is good for beginners. please go ahead and enroll for the course." -- Anuja

"For understanding the basics of T-SQL this course is good." -- Matti

"I have done three of Mike's SQL courses and learned a lot. I think these courses would be great for anyone new to SQL Server. I imagine this would be great preparation for those thinking about getting an MS SQL Server certification too." -- Keith B

"The explanation was very simple and easy to understand." -- Mansoor

COURSE OVERVIEW

SQL Server is a combination of two core items The first is the administration side of the house. Creating databases, managing logins and users, backups,… etc.

The second part of the equation is that of developing code in a language called Structured Query Language.

Microsoft’s flavor of SQL is called Transact-SQL.

Transact was designed primarily to work with relational databases. Transact is the language used to talk to SQL Server.

When we want to create a database a database we use DDL or Data Definition Language. I’m defining an object when I use the statement with the code.

When we want to see data inside a table we use DML or Data Manipulation Language. I’m not creating an object I’m manipulating the data inside that object.

In this course we are going to learn the basics of Transact-SQL or T-SQL.

We will cover the fundamentals of Transact using real world examples. Additionally, we will discuss some of the best practices associated with crafting clean, high performance code.

You’ll learn why stored procedures are so important to well-designed applications and why ad hoc queries aren’t.

The knowledge you gain from the course will not only help you learn to develop but will also give you a great first step to learning how to pinpoint performance issues due to poorly written code.

Thanks for your interest in “Real World Transact-SQL from the Ground Up.”

See you in the course.

Who this course is for:

This course is for anyone interested in learning the basics of Transact-SQL.
This IS an entry level course.
Everything you need for the course will be included in the course.

How You Can Master the Fundamentals of Transact-SQL

What you'll learn

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Course content

Introduction9 lectures • 30min

Writing Transact-SQL Overview14 lectures • 42min

Data Manipulation Language13 lectures • 29min

Functions8 lectures • 16min

More Advanced Transact-SQL4 lectures • 7min

Conclusion1 lecture • 2min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: