--Other SQL Lessons Sections-- What is a Relational Database? The Basics Select - Finding Your Data Select Comparing Values Joining Tables Creating Basic Triggers Starting with Views Data Types Primary Keys Foreign Keys Outer Joins Constraints Resolving Many To Many Maintaining Referential Integrity Triggers As Constraints Changing Table Definitions 1 Changing Table Definitions 2 Changing Table Definitions 3 Changing Table Definitions 4 - Summary Nulls and Nothings Self Referencing, Lookup Table Tips and Tricks

Learning SQL - Preparation

Before we can go to school we need to know what some stuff means.

SQL

Structured Query Language, that's what you are going to learn.

It is pronounced 'Sequel' NOT 'ess queue ell' I have had some 'discussions' on various forums reagarding the correct pronunciation. Wel, geuss what? This is MY website and you are a visitor and you WILL pronounce SQL as 'sequel' or you can leave now! Only joking! I don't really mind if you want to look like an amateur in discussions with 'real' database folks.

Database

A computer file where we store our data

Tables

These are like the drawers in a filing cabinet, holding related bits of information

Relational Database

Lots of tables linked together by keys

Columns

Individual bits of information in a table ie: Name, Date Of Birth

Rows

A complete set of data for one record ie: one person

Throughout these lessons there is example code. Yellow boxed code can be executed, if you skip lessons then some code may be dependent on previous code.

This code could be run against your database

Grey boxed code is pseudo code

This code cannot be run without you doing some work to it