How to Learn SQL

Part 1 - W3Schools SQL Tutorial

  1. Do the W3Schools.com SQL Tutorial*.
  2. …including all of the “Try It Yourself” buttons.
  3. At each step of the tutorial, if there is something you don’t completely understand, Google the answer.
  4. …StackOverflow.com* is your friend.
  5. Next, on the left sidebar of the W3Schools SQL Tutorial, read all of the “SQL Reference” section and subsections.
  6. …Yup, reading the reference material is definitely part of the learning process.
  7. Finally, also on the left sidebar of the W3Schools SQL Tutorial, read all of the “SQL Examples” section and subsections.
  8. …If there is something you don’t understand, click and read the “Example Explained” button materials (brings you back to the relevant tutorial section).

Part 2 - Corey Schafer SQL Tutorial

  1. Follow along and do the tutorials in Corey Schafer’s SQL Tutorial Playlist*.
  2. If you have a Windows PC, then download*, install and use the latest version of HeidiSQL* GUI SQL browser (for Windows) instead of the PSequel* (for Mac) that Corey uses.
  3. Full disclosure: HeidiSQL looks good to me, but I have not used it yet myself. I found it by Googling a Windows alternative to PSequel. (Let me know if it sucks.)
  4. Note: Don’t be tempted to purchase a Mac because Corey (or any other YouTuber) is using one. Windows PC is currently the best for data science*.

Part 3 - Corey Schafer Python SQLite Tutorial

  1. Watch Corey Schafer’s YouTube video: Python SQLite Tutorial: Complete Overview - Creating a Database, Table, and Running Queries*
  2. If you have already done a complete Python tutorial, then also follow along and do this tutorial.

Part 4 - Rinse and Repeat

  1. Repeat Parts 1, 2 and 3 until you completely understand all the materials.