Editorial Review:
SQL (Structured Query Language) is a standard programming language for generating, manipulating, and retrieving information from a relational database. If you're working with a relational database--whether you're writing applications, performing administrative tasks, or generating reports--you need to know how to interact with your data. Even if you are using a tool that generates SQL for you, such as a reporting tool, there may still be cases where you need to bypass the automatic generation feature and write your own SQL statements. To help you attain this fundamental SQL knowledge, look to "Learning SQL," an introductory guide to SQL, designed primarily for developers just cutting their teeth on the language. "Learning SQL" moves you quickly through the basics and then on to some of the more commonly used advanced features. Among the topics discussed: The history of the computerized database SQL Data Statements--those used to create, manipulate, and retrieve data stored in your database; example statements include select, update, insert, and delete SQL Schema Statements--those used to create database objects, such as tables, indexes, and constraints How data sets can interact with queries The importance of subqueries Data conversion and manipulation via SQL's built-in functions How conditional logic can be used in Data Statements Best of all, "Learning SQL" talks to you in a real-world manner, discussing various platform differences that you're likely to encounter and offering a series of chapter exercises that walk you through the learning process. Whenever possible, the book sticks to the features included in the ANSI SQL standards. This meansyou'll be able to apply what you learn to any of several different databases; the book covers MySQL, Microsoft SQL Server, and Oracle Database, but the features and syntax should apply just as well (perhaps with some tweaking) to IBM DB2, Sybase Adaptive Server, and PostgreSQL. Put the power and flexibility of SQL to work. With "Learning SQL" you can master this important skill and know that the SQL statements you write are indeed correct.
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Customer Reviews
Average Customer Rating: 
Only for beginners  2008-06-14
I have been working with some fairly decent SQL from the past 3 years. I wanted to improve my basics and also learn some advanced topics.
This book is good for real beginners and not somebody who is already into SQL.
Apart from that, the content and explaining style of the author is good. I would recommed this book for beginners only.
I wish O'Reilly would tag their books in terms of target readers. like beginner, intermediate, advanced, re-search, etc.
I agree "learning" does indicate the same, but still.
Only for MySQL, not for Microsoft SQL Server  2007-07-19
Buy instead the excellent book by Ben Forta "SQL in 10 Minutes", which is a bit more simplistic but better.
This book is geared towards an older version of MySQL, ver 4.x. Despite my best efforts, and I have several books on SQL and am not entirely a beginner, I could not entirely translate the MySQL script source code associated with this book to MS SQL Server 2005 SQL.
Also, some of the "foreign keys" in the sample database have confusing names--a minor point but annoying.
Avoid this book, unless you want to use it (as I do) as a training exercise (since I have other SQL books) rather than a book you can learn from.
Not for a true novice  2007-06-21
I bought this book thinking I could learn SQL as a true novice. This book is not intended for a real beginner, but for developers/programmers that probably already know at least one language. For a real beginner's book see Forta's MYSQL Crash Course or Teach Yourself SQL. This book, Learning SQL, would probably be your next book.
If you want to or have to use SQL, this is the book 2007-05-07
I needed a book to get one started with SQL programming from the basics to professional use of the language. After reading a few books (thanks to our great Public Libraries system), I concluded that this book is the one.
It has the right size (size is important not to scare people off), makes the right assumptions about the reader, gives lots of examples (cases) and it is, mainly, DB agnostic.
Get it and READ it.
Excellent Book to Learn SQL Quickly! 2007-04-04
Being an IT Professional i have seen many books till now and this is one of the best books i have seen. Price is not a matter if you get worth of the book and the way the author explains is impressive. Definitely a must have book for SQL Developers.
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