Learn SQL Quickly

Learning SQL means learning how to ask a database useful questions—and how to shape, update, and organize the information it holds. Learn SQL Quickly takes readers from database fundamentals into practical MySQL topics, following a progression from setup and connections to queries, joins, indexing, and more advanced database features.

Start with the database basics

The opening chapters introduce databases and SQL, discuss MySQL alongside alternatives, and cover installation and establishing a connection. From there, the book moves into creating a database, working with common data types, and inserting records.

Build confidence writing queries

Core query topics include selecting columns, removing duplicate results with DISTINCT, filtering with WHERE and other conditions, and using regular expressions. The coverage then expands to INNER, LEFT, RIGHT, and CROSS JOINs, as well as UNION—tools for retrieving and combining information from tables.

Understand structure, keys, and performance

Chapters on primary and foreign keys explain important ways to define relationships and identify records. A substantial section on indexing explores different index types, how indexes affect joins and sorting, using EXPLAIN, and how to think about selecting and testing indexes.

Go beyond basic retrieval

The contents also cover changing and removing data with UPDATE, DELETE, and TRUNCATE; grouping results and using aggregate functions such as MIN, MAX, AVG, and SUM; and working with subqueries. Later topics include CASE and IF, views, stored procedures, loops, triggers, and string functions.

A practical route into MySQL

With its topic-by-topic path from database setup through queries and database objects, this SQL guide is suited to readers starting out with SQL or looking to review introductory MySQL concepts. It offers a broad foundation for understanding how databases are built and how their data can be retrieved and managed.