Is SQL Like Excel?
If you are a computer science student or work in the data management field in any capacity, you undoubtedly have extensive experience with both SQL and Excel. And while the database jargon that surrounds each application may be comprehensible to those within the field, it can get a little confusing for those who are less tech savvy. So what’s the deal: is SQL like Excel?
SQL is like Excel in that they both work to organize and access data. However, Excel is thought of more as a computer program that allows users to work with data, while SQL is a language used to communicate with databases
Although both SQL and Excel are both essential components of any data management program, SQL will have more utility for handling massive amounts of data than Excel, which is better for smaller, more localized databases. If your head is still spinning from this explanation, keep reading to get a better understanding of SQL and Excel’s role in data management!
How Is SQL Like Excel?
At their core, SQL and Excel are extremely similar because they are both tools for organizing, locating, and using data.
Say that you work in the clerk and recorder’s office for your county. If you wanted to identify a specific marriage that took place in the year 2005, either SQL or Excel could theoretically be used to accomplish this task.
However, outside of the general similarity of “they both interact with data,” it is hard to find many ways in which SQL and Excel are alike.
How Does SQL Differ From Excel?
Those in the data analytics industry describe Excel as a program and SQL as a language.
So let’s try to put this in layman’s terms.
Excel is a program that you have on your computer. It is a piece of software that allows you to use spreadsheets and formulas to store, manipulate, retrieve, and analyze data. It has reigned as a business analytics tool for many years due to its utility in computing large numbers, organizing complex lists, and creating visual representations of data.
You interact with Excel directly, and it is hard for outside entities to access your Excel files. For this reason, Excel is very weak for collaborative projects or data integration.
SQL (structured query language), on the other hand, is not a program. As its name suggests, it is a language. It allows for communication between large databases to pull relevant information for business use. It allows data analysts to read, manipulate, and search through vast, distinct databases to convert information into a more coherent, digestible format.
The two tools can be further distinguished by thinking in terms of accessibility and power.
Excel is the more accessible option. It is intuitive for most users and is notable for its ease-of-use. It looks very similar to a digital notebook on which users can input and manipulate their data.
While less accessible than Excel, SQL gets high marks for its power. It is known for its incredible speed in processing large quantities of data. When Excel starts to slow down in the face of 1 million or more entries, SQL is still going strong. This makes SQL a particularly relevant tool in a climate in which the average business processes hundreds of terabytes of data and are frequently required to share this data with similar businesses.
What Types Of Databases Is SQL Best For?
As mentioned, SQL scores high marks for its speed and power. This makes it a strong option for managing large databases that contain a million or more entries. Some other examples of where SQL shines include:
- Collaborative work in sharing large data sets among multiple entities
- Preparing datasets for use in another program
- Consistent reports and calculations thanks to the fidelity of the data pulled
To touch on this last point: SQL is generally viewed as better than Excel organizing and structuring data sets. SQL tables are more strict about consistent data types and restrict information that is not consistent with what is in use. It is also more secure than Excel, as 100% of the changes made in SQL are traceable and auditable.
What Types Of Databases Is Excel Best For?
Excel is an outstanding program for smaller databases containing fewer than one million rows. Because of this, it is still a wildly popular program for college students and small businesses that have yet to scale. Some points where Excel is likely favorable to SQL include:
- Manual input of data
- The less stringent protocols allow for greater flexibility, and any cell can be any type of data without being restricted by the program
- Exporting graphs and visual representations Independent work that is not meant to be shared
One important note: even though Excel can process up to one million rows, many users note that the program slows considerably once this number exceeds 100,000.
Is SQL More Relevant Than Excel?
There is a strong argument that SQL is more relevant than Excel as a data management tool. Many businesses live and breathe on data and use it for marketing, product optimization, sales forecasts, subscription records, and much more. The power of being able to seamlessly integrate data sets using SQL makes it a very powerful tool in the current online/hybrid business climate.
Does Knowing SQL Replace Excel?
Although knowing SQL can be viewed as critical for success as a business analyst, knowing SQL does not make Excel obsolete. Both are distinct tools that serve distinct purposes, so those working in data management need to be well-versed in both. Even though SQL is extremely powerful in the age of big data, there will be times when using Excel may be preferable.
The Bottom Line: Are SQL And Excel Alike?
SQL is like Excel in the fundamental sense that both are tools for managing and analyzing data. However, Excel is a program that allows users to work with data, while SQL is a language that allows for integration of large data sets. Although SQL offers many advantages over Excel for processing data, it does not completely negate it, so having a firm understanding of both is critical for business analysts.