New book: “Learning SQL, Second Edition”

Although SQL is an old language, it’s going to be around for a lot longer, and has a bright future in store, says author Alan Beaulieu. “Properly designed, a relational database can handle huge amounts of data, and SQL is a language for generating, manipulating, and retrieving data from such a relational database,” explains Beaulieu in the new edition of Learning SQL. “When working with large data sets, SQL is akin to one of those snazzy digital cameras with high-power zoom lens in that you can use SQL to look at large sets of data, or you can zoom in on individual rows (or anywhere in between).

Updated for the latest database management systems—including MySQL 6.0, Oracle 11g, and Microsoft’s SQL Server 2008—Beaulieu’s guide will get you up and running with SQL quickly. Whether you need to write database applications, perform administrative tasks, or generate reports, Learning SQL will help you easily master all the SQL fundamentals.

Each chapter presents a self-contained lesson on a key SQL concept or technique, with numerous illustrations and annotated examples. Exercises at the end of each chapter let you practice the skills you learn. With this book, you will:

• Move quickly through SQL basics and learn several advanced features
• Use SQL data statements to generate, manipulate, and retrieve data
• Create database objects, such as tables, indexes, and constraints, using SQL schema statements
• Learn how data sets interact with queries, and understand the importance of subqueries
• Convert and manipulate data with SQL’s built-in functions, and use conditional logic in data statements
• Knowledge of SQL is a must for interacting with data. With Learning SQL, you’ll quickly learn how to put the power and flexibility of this language to work.