Did you know that over 132,000 database administrators are in the United States?

If you too aspire to become one in the future, you must know about data platforms and other related information. But without experience, you won’t have an idea of what skills to develop. At worst, you end up not getting your preferred career because of it.

Don’t feel discouraged yet.

With this guide, you’ll learn about the essential SQL skills you must learn. That way, you become an effective database administrator. Read on and find out more:

1. Database Fundamentals

To effectively know what SQL is, you must become an expert on the concept of databases. Know its purpose and how it helps companies organize and data more practically. That way, you’ll have a better appreciation of the database’s role in making companies function better.

This knowledge sets the foundation to help understand SQL’s functionality. It’s especially when you’re using it to benefit any of the millions of small businesses located in the country.

2. Purpose of Tables and Indexes

These concepts are the primary building blocks of SQL. A good comparison to a database is a library, with tables as books. Indexes, on the other hand, function like the old-fashioned file-card cabinets to aid you in finding the books you’re looking for.

It’s a fundamental skill to understand what tables and indexes are, as well as their functions. Knowing their actual operation is a more advanced skill. Regardless, having this skill helps in manipulating data within your database.

3. Basic SQL Syntax and Conditional Filters

Understanding any programming language requires you to learn its syntax. When applied to SQL, it means you must know how to make a query. This ensures you find the information you’re looking for.

For example, learning the most basic SELECT and FROM commands is a must. It’s because these keywords are part of a query that searches for data from tables. It’s a necessity because of the precise nature of SQL.

When using SQL for database management, the smallest of errors can lead to big problems later. That’s why you must get the syntaxes right. It means avoiding keyword errors and misplaced quotation marks to name a few.

Also, you need not pull all records from a column when querying for information. In most cases, your queries will get specific data. Understanding the query structure aids to write more complex commands to extract your desired information.

Examples include the WHERE clause along with OR and AND for table filtering. To organize the data you pulled from the table, use GROUP BY and ORDER BY. After learning this, you’ll know how to write almost all basic queries.

4. Joins and Subqueries

The data you’ll work with aren’t necessarily within the same table. In most cases, it won’t be the case, that’s why mastering joins is a necessary skill. This allows you to merge data from various tables, making it easier to analyze various datasets.

Four types of joins exist in SQL: inner, left, right, and full. Mastering this requires knowing what type to use, as well as the code necessary to execute it.

Subqueries are queries found within another statement, functioning similarly as joins. Use these to link data across various tables. When done right, they’re more efficient compared to joins because it simplifies the data extraction process.

5. Understand How Indexes Function

Database indexes exist for faster queries. Indexes instill order onto data tables, making it easier for you to get your desired data. Knowing the purpose and mechanics behind index creation gives you more ideas on how to use them effectively.

To make the most out of this feature, learn the subtle differences between clustered and non-clustered indexes. You must also know how indexing adds data structure. To top it off, learn the guidelines for making efficient indexes.

6. Learn PHP and How to Work With Popular Database Systems

SQL is a programming language without a database system. It means you must work with systems like MySQL or PostgreSQL to store data for later use. The good news is both are open-source and available for free.

While you’re mastering these, pick up PHP along the way too. It might be an odious ordeal to learn another programming language, but it makes things easier. Gaining a degree of PHP mastery allows you to interact with lots of popular SQL database programs such as MySQL.

If you use these two concepts in tandem, you can build almost any type of website. This is an important skill to learn when you want to become more valuable to the company you’ll work for. Besides, learning something new is always great for enriching your career.

Not sure about using COALESCE in PostgreSQL? Check this guide here to learn more.

7. Execution Plans

This serves as a visual representation of your database engine’s query execution. With this, you have a sneak peek under the hood. This means you get an idea of how the information gets processed by your database management system.

With execution plans, you’ll learn more about a query’s efficiency. It’s one of the primary tools when you troubleshoot an underperforming or slow query. Understanding this concept enables you to finetune your queries without compromising its performance.

Honorable Mentions

These are some advanced concepts you must learn when you master the basics. It’s especially important if you’re planning to run an SQL server.

Backup Databases

This is critical since it’s a contingency in case your current database gets corrupted or damaged in any way. Thankfully, lots of backup types exist. It’s only a matter of knowing which to use.

OLAP

Online Analytical Processes is a class of database applications allowing faster data analysis. This includes innovative methods going beyond the simple two-dimensional spreadsheet. It takes lots of skill to implement, but it’s worth the benefit of gaining insight into various businesses.

Learn SQL Skills Today!

These are the necessary SQL skills you must learn to become a great database administrator. Use these to guide your learning experience.

Of course, mastering SQL and other languages and tools doesn’t end with these 7 skills. To learn even more coding tips and tricks, we encourage you to continue reading our in-depth tech guides right here!