The Ultimate Modern SQL Course - 2024/25

Welcome to The Ultimate Modern SQL Course! The only course you need to learn one of the most in-demand data skills in today’s workplace.

If we look at our modern data landscape we can see SQL everywhere, powering relational databases like MySQL and Postgres, enabling cloud-based analytics through platforms like BigQuery and Snowflake and even serving as interfaces for Big Data tools like Spark and Hadoop.

This course offers a one-stop shop for students of any skill level to learn all the essential SQL syntaxand features, grounded in a deep understanding of how SQL has evolved to meet modern demands, such as cloud computing and Big Data.

Using the powerful cloud-native data platform Snowflake, we’ll analyse synthetic and real-world data through a combination of bite-sized theory lectures and hands-on exercises — equipping you with everything you need to become a SQL expert fit for the modern world!

Why Choose This Course?

• 6+ hours of high-quality content comprised of bite-sized videos of around 5 minutes, so you get what you need without the fluff!

• Theory lectures that include architectural diagrams, graphics, code snippets, and overview slides to bookmark and study.

• Interactive hands-on content in the Snowflake UI with a focus on ANSI-standard SQL code.

• Experience working with and understanding both synthetic and real-world data.

• A folder full of SQL code to accompany hands-on videos that you can run, edit and share!

• A review quiz at the end of each section to reinforce the practical and theoretical concepts you've just studied.

• Learn SQL in the context of modern data challenges like Big Data and the Cloud.

• The perspective of a SQL professional instructor through the Q&A section.

• Earn a certificate of completion when you complete the course to showcase your expertise.

What Will You Cover?

1. Course Setup

• Create a free Snowflake trial account.

• Download the hands-on SQL code.

• Learn study methods to help it all go in and stay in!

2. Introduction to SQL and Snowflake

• Learn about SQL's historical context and how it fits into the modern data landscape.

• Have a crash course on Snowflake, the cloud-native data platform we'll be using for the course.

• Have an introduction to the technical aspects of the SQL language.

• Additional database concepts like the object model and access control.

3. Data Definition Language (DDL)

• Learn SQL statements used to create and modify objects: CREATE, USE, SHOW, DESCRIBE, DROP & ALTER.

• Learn about Data Types.

• Learn about Constraints.

• Have an introduction to SQL Syntax Best Practices.

4. Data Manipulation Language (DML)

• Learn about SQL statements to generate and modify data: INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, TRUNCATE & MERGE.

• Learn the process of loading large amounts of data with Snowflake features: Stages, File Formats, COPY INTO <table>.

5. Query Fundamentals

• Learn the many individual clauses of the select statement in detail: SELECT, FROM, WHERE, ORDER BY, GROUP BY & HAVING.

• Learn about scalar and aggregate SQL functions.

• Have an introduction to User-defined functions.

6. Intermediate Querying

• Learn to combine table attributes with the JOIN clause.

• Learn to modularise our SQL code with Subqueries.

• Learn about Set Operators to compare result sets.

• Learn about Conditional Expressions to control the flow of our data.

• Learn about the View database object.

• Learn about how to convert from one data type to another with Casting.

7. SQL Query Performance

• Learn about the database Order Of Execution to help conceptualise how the database engine processes statements.

• Learn about best practices when using different SQL clauses: JOIN, ORDER BY, WHERE and GROUP BY.

• Learn how to use the EXPLAIN command and Snowflake's Query Profile Tool.

• Learn about Snowflake-specific features for improving query performance: Caching and Materialized Views.

8. Advanced SQL Features

• Learn about Window Functions and Window Frames.

• Learn about Common Table Expressions (CTEs) and Recursive CTEs.

• Learn about Transactions.

• Learn about Collation.

• Learn about User-defined Functions (UDFs) and Stored Procedures.

9. Processing Semi-structured Data

• Have a crash course into what semi-structured data is.

• Learn how to load semi-structured data and what their unique considerations are.

• Learn how to query and access semi-structured data.

• Learn what functions are unique for accessing semi-structured data.

• Learn what are the unique considerations for loading binary semi-structured data. 

  
  

One last thing - I'd love to hear from you! Share your experience taking the course by messaging me on Udemy or through LinkedIn. You can find me by searching 'Tom Bailey • Udemy Instructor'.

Ready to transform your SQL skills? Enrol now to get lifetime access to this comprehensive course and start mastering SQL for the modern data landscape today!