What Should I Learn Before SQL?

Structured Query Language, or SQL, is a relatively easy skill to learn and can even give you an advantage in the job market. While anyone with a desire to learn can master it, there are some skills you should learn beforehand that will make the entire process easier.

A few skills you should learn before SQL are different SQL dialects and knowledge pertaining to databases. Problem solving and detail orientation are also skills that will help you learn SQL, but they aren’t necessary.

The following article is a more in-depth explanation of a few skills you should learn before learning SQL.

Different SQL Dialects

Within the basic language of SQL, there are a few different dialects that include unique commands or styles. While you don’t have to master all of them, knowing a few differences between the dialects can help you improve your SQL knowledge.

SQL has one main language that serves as a foundation for the rest of the SQL dialects. Dialects are separated from the main language primarily because of differences in style and commands. Some of the most common SQL dialects used include:

• SQL Server
• SQLite
• MySQL
• PostgreSQL

SQL Server

SQL Server is the SQL-based database made and run by Microsoft. Rather than being a query language, SQL server is a software tool used by Microsoft to carry out SQL tasks. It isn’t necessary to know this dialect to learn SQL, but it can be helpful if you will be using Microsoft products in the future for a job or other purposes.

SQLite

SQLite is a file-based system rather than a server based system. Since this dialect writes data to a single file, it doesn’t need a server to operate properly. This makes the dialect easy to use almost anywhere, and learning it can help you better use your SQL skills in multiple circumstances.

MySQL

MySQL is an open-source database system, meaning that it allows users to keep existing data in an organized database. The dialect does query the data, and it can be used to design databases and keep data safe. Learning this dialect can help you make your own SQL projects once you’ve mastered the query language.

PostgreSQL

Finally, PostgreSQL is the closest dialect to typical SQL syntax, so you can quickly adapt it to the other dialects described above. Learning this SQL dialect can serve as a foundation for learning the basic SQL language, making the entire process more manageable as you learn more advanced skills.

The only circumstances where learning different SQL dialects could be unproductive is if the job you’re learning the skills for already uses a certain database. If you are required to learn the dialect and inner workings of that database, then it’s recommended that you focus on learning that specific database dialect.

Database Analysis and Skills

Understanding SQL relies heavily on managing and analyzing databases. Learning a few basic database skills will help you learn SQL faster and make it easier to apply the skills you learn to real-life situations.

A few specific database skills that you should know before learning SQL include:

• Database architecture
• Database management
• Database analysis

Database Architecture

Database architecture refers to the design and construction of large database systems that are designed to store and manage significant amounts of information. Some common ones include Windows servers and the Oracle database.

Database Management

Learning more about the inner workings of these and other databases can help you see the SQL language in action. The more familiar you are with how the language looks in practice, the better you can understand and use SQL in your own projects.

Database Analysis

Database management skills will help you learn how to manage an SQL database after you’ve created it. These skills are fundamental since learning them will teach you how to make backup servers for your data. These servers protect your data in case the database crashes, ensuring that you won’t lose it.

Finally, database analysis skills will help you learn how to analyze data and pick up important patterns. Since the SQL language relies heavily on databases and data tables, knowing how to look for trends will help you sort through large amounts of data easily. While these skills aren’t necessary to learn basic SQL, they are needed to learn SQL faster or if you want to learn more advanced SQL.

Other General Skills To Learn

Some other general skills that are good to have before starting to learn SQL include:

• Detail orientation
• Problem solving
• Critical thinking

Having these skills isn’t required to learn SQL, but they can make the process easier.

Detail Orientation

SQL isn’t a complicated query language to learn, but being detail-oriented will definitely come in handy once you start creating your own projects or managing large databases. Being detail-oriented will make it easier for you to pay attention to every small detail required to create a functioning database. The more detailed a database is, then the more prepared it is to handle information, whether the amount is big or small.

Problem Solving

Problem solving skills will definitely make it easier to not only learn SQL, but to use it in real-life situations. Using SQL and problem-solving skills to figure out issues with data management or data architecture is crucial if you want to use SQL in a job. If you already have problem-solving skills, then you will be able to learn and use SQL much faster.

Critical Thinking

Finally, critical thinking skills can help you decide how to build high-quality SQL databases. Critically thinking about essential aspects of making a database, such as which SQL dialect is the best to use, can help improve your SQL skills. Being able to use SQL to think through problems and come up with solutions is a great skill to have in the workplace, especially if you’re working with data.

Final Thoughts

Learning a few basic skills before diving into SQL can make the entire process easier and establish a good foundation. Furthermore, combining these skills with the SQL knowledge that you acquire will make it easier to apply SQL skills to real-life situations.