SQL: A Practical Introduction for Querying Databases

Grow your skills with Coursera Plus for $239/year (usually $399). Save now.

SQL: A Practical Introduction for Querying Databases

This course is part of multiple programs.

Instructor: Rav Ahuja

76,167 already enrolled

Included with

5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

696 reviews

Beginner level

Recommended experience

Flexible schedule

2 weeks at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

95%

Most learners liked this course

5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

696 reviews

Beginner level

Recommended experience

Flexible schedule

2 weeks at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

95%

Most learners liked this course

What you'll learn

Analyze data within a database using SQL.
Create a relational database on Cloud and work with tables.
Write SQL statements including SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE.
Build more powerful queries with advanced SQL techniques like views, transactions, stored procedures and joins.

Skills you'll gain

Category: Data Analysis
Category: Databases
Category: Database Management
Category: SQL
Category: Transaction Processing
Category: Data Manipulation
Category: Stored Procedure

Tools you'll learn

Category: MySQL
Category: Query Languages
Category: Database Systems
Category: Microsoft SQL Servers
Category: IBM DB2
Category: Relational Databases

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

15 assignments¹

AI Graded see disclaimer

Taught in English

Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is available as part of

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be asked to select a specific program.

Learn new concepts from industry experts
Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate from IBM

There are 5 modules in this course

Much of the world's data lives in databases. SQL (or Structured Query Language) is a powerful programming language that is used for communicating with and manipulating data in databases. A working knowledge of databases and SQL is a must for anyone who wants to start a career in Data Engineering, Data Warehousing, Data Analytics, Data Science or Business Intelligence. The purpose of this course is to help you learn and apply foundational and intermediate knowledge of the SQL language, and become familiar with many relational database (RDBMS) concepts along the way.

You will start with performing basic Create, Read, Update and Delete (CRUD) operations using CREATE, SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE and DELETE statements. You will then learn to filter, order, sort, and aggregate data. You will work with functions, perform sub-selects and nested queries, as well as JOIN data in multiple tables. You will also work with VIEWS, transactions and create stored procedures. The emphasis in this course is on hands-on, practical learning. As such, you will work with real database systems, use real tools, and real-world datasets. You will create a database instance in the cloud. Through a series of hands-on labs, you will practice building and running SQL queries. At the end of the course you will apply and demonstrate your skills with a final project. The SQL skills you learn in this course will be applicable to a variety of RDBMSes such as MySQL, PostgreSQL, IBM Db2, Oracle, SQL Server and others. No prior knowledge of databases, SQL or programming is required, however some basic data literacy is beneficial.

In this module, you will be introduced to databases. You will create a database instance on the cloud. You will learn some of the basic SQL statements. You will also write and practice basic SQL hands-on on a live database.

What's included

6 videos2 readings2 assignments3 app items1 plugin

6 videosTotal 19 minutes

Course Introduction3 minutes
Introduction to Databases4 minutes
SELECT Statement4 minutes
COUNT, DISTINCT, LIMIT3 minutes
INSERT Statement3 minutes
UPDATE and DELETE Statements3 minutes

2 readingsTotal 10 minutes

Course Overview5 minutes
Summary & Highlights5 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 24 minutes

Graded Quiz: Basic SQL9 minutes
Practice Quiz: Basic SQL15 minutes

3 app itemsTotal 75 minutes

Hands-on Lab: Simple SELECT Statements20 minutes
Hands-on Lab: COUNT, DISTINCT, LIMIT35 minutes
Hands-on Lab: INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE20 minutes

1 pluginTotal 5 minutes

SELECT statement examples5 minutes

In this module, you will explore the fundamental concepts behind databases, tables, and the relationships between them. You will then create an instance of a database, discover SQL statements that allow you to create and manipulate tables, and then practice them on your own live database.

What's included

5 videos2 readings2 assignments3 app items5 plugins

5 videosTotal 22 minutes

Relational Database Concepts6 minutes
Types of SQL statements (DDL vs. DML)2 minutes
CREATE TABLE Statement4 minutes
ALTER, DROP, and Truncate tables4 minutes
How to create a Database instance on Cloud6 minutes

2 readingsTotal 6 minutes

Optional Db2 Labs1 minute
Summary & Highlights5 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 24 minutes

Graded Quiz: Relational DB Concepts and Tables9 minutes
Practice Quiz: Relational DB Concepts and Tables15 minutes

3 app itemsTotal 50 minutes

Hands-on Lab : CREATE, ALTER, TRUNCATE, DROP20 minutes
Hands-on Lab: Create and Load Tables using SQL Scripts20 minutes
Obtain IBM Cloud Feature Code and Activate Trial Account10 minutes

5 pluginsTotal 90 minutes

Examples to ALTER and TRUNCATE tables using MySQL15 minutes
Examples to CREATE and DROP tables15 minutes
(Optional) Db2 Lab: Create Db2 service instance and Get started with the Db2 console15 minutes
(Optional) Db2 Lab: CREATE, ALTER, TRUNCATE, DROP15 minutes
(Optional) Db2 Lab: Create and Load Tables using SQL Scripts30 minutes

In this module, you will learn how to use string patterns and ranges to search data and how to sort and group data in result sets. You will also practice composing nested queries and execute select statements to access data from multiple tables.

What's included

7 videos2 readings4 assignments4 app items4 plugins

7 videosTotal 32 minutes

Using String Patterns and Ranges4 minutes
Sorting Result Sets3 minutes
Grouping Result Sets4 minutes
Built-in Database Functions6 minutes
Date and Time Built-in Functions3 minutes
Sub-Queries and Nested Selects5 minutes
Working with Multiple Tables7 minutes

2 readingsTotal 10 minutes

Summary & Highlights5 minutes
Summary & Highlights5 minutes

4 assignmentsTotal 48 minutes

Graded Quiz: Refining Your Results9 minutes
Graded Quiz: Functions, Sub-Queries, Multiple Tables9 minutes
Practice Quiz: Refining Your Results15 minutes
Practice Quiz: Functions, Sub-Queries, Multiple Tables15 minutes

4 app itemsTotal 80 minutes

Hands-on Lab: String Patterns, Sorting and Grouping20 minutes
Hands-on Lab: Built-in functions20 minutes
Hands-on Lab : Sub-queries and Nested SELECTS20 minutes
Hands-on Lab: Working with Multiple Tables20 minutes

4 pluginsTotal 100 minutes

(Optional) Db2 Lab : String Patterns, Sorting & Grouping35 minutes
(Optional) Db2 Lab: Built-in functions15 minutes
(Optional) Db2 Lab: Sub-queries and Nested SELECTs 20 minutes
(Optional) Db2 Lab: Working with Multiple Tables 30 minutes

In this assignment, you will be working with multiple real world datasets for the city of Chicago. You will be asked questions that will help you understand the data just as you would in the real wold. You will be assessed on the correctness of your SQL queries and results.

What's included

2 videos2 assignments2 app items4 plugins

2 videosTotal 10 minutes

Working with Real World Datasets6 minutes
Getting Table and Column Details5 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 90 minutes

Project Evaluation (Quiz)30 minutes
Final Exam60 minutes

2 app itemsTotal 40 minutes

Hands-on Lab: Working with a real world data-set20 minutes
Hands-on Lab: Final Project20 minutes

4 pluginsTotal 77 minutes

(Optional) LOADing Data15 minutes
(Optional) Db2 Lab: Working with a Real World Dataset using SQL and IBM Cloud Db2 45 minutes
Final Project Overview2 minutes
(Optional) Db2 Lab: Exploratory Data Analysis with SQL15 minutes

This module covers some advanced SQL techniques that will be useful for Data Engineers. If you are following the Data Engineering track, you must complete this module. In this module, you will learn how to build more powerful queries with advanced SQL techniques like views, transactions, stored procedures and joins.

What's included

6 videos5 readings5 assignments6 app items6 plugins

6 videosTotal 23 minutes

Views4 minutes
Stored Procedures3 minutes
ACID Transactions4 minutes
Join Overview4 minutes
Inner Join3 minutes
Outer Joins6 minutes

5 readingsTotal 15 minutes

About this Module2 minutes
Summary & Highlights5 minutes
Summary & Highlights5 minutes
Congratulations & Next Steps2 minutes
Course Team1 minute

5 assignmentsTotal 90 minutes

Graded Quiz: Views, Stored Procedures and Transactions 15 minutes
Graded Quiz: JOIN operations 15 minutes
Graded Quiz: Advanced SQL for Data Engineers30 minutes
Practice Quiz: Views,Stored Procedures and Transactions15 minutes
Practice Quiz: JOIN operations15 minutes

6 app itemsTotal 160 minutes

Hands-on Lab: Using Views20 minutes
Hands-on Lab: Stored Procedures20 minutes
Hands-on Lab: Committing and Rolling back a Transaction20 minutes
Hands-on Lab: Joins20 minutes
Practice Lab: Joins20 minutes
Hands-on Lab:Final Project: Advanced SQL Techniques60 minutes

6 pluginsTotal 145 minutes

(Optional) Db2 Lab: Using Views10 minutes
(Optional) Db2 Lab: Stored Procedures10 minutes
(Optional) Db2 Lab: Committing and rolling back a transaction10 minutes
(Optional) Db2 Lab: Joins25 minutes
(Optional) Db2 Lab: Joins30 minutes
(Optional) Db2 Final Project: Advanced SQL for Data Engineers60 minutes

Earn a career certificate

Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV. Share it on social media and in your performance review.

Instructor

Instructor ratings

(172 ratings)

Rav Ahuja

IBM

55 Courses4,905,853 learners

Offered by

IBM

Why people choose Coursera for their career

Felipe M.

Learner since 2018

"To be able to take courses at my own pace and rhythm has been an amazing experience. I can learn whenever it fits my schedule and mood."

Jennifer J.

Learner since 2020

"I directly applied the concepts and skills I learned from my courses to an exciting new project at work."

Larry W.

Learner since 2021

"When I need courses on topics that my university doesn't offer, Coursera is one of the best places to go."

Chaitanya A.

"Learning isn't just about being better at your job: it's so much more than that. Coursera allows me to learn without limits."

Learner reviews

5 stars
77.29%
4 stars
16.66%
3 stars
2.87%
2 stars
1%
1 star
2.15%

Showing 3 of 696

Reviewed on May 24, 2025

i have completed the whole course but then also i am noy getting any certificate downloading option

Reviewed on Feb 13, 2025

THE COURSE WAS GREAT I LEARNED ALOT BUT IT CAN BE IMPROVED THROUGH GOING DEEPER TO EACH AND EVERY BASIC CONCEPT

Reviewed on Dec 20, 2022

Amazing course. Abosolutelly recommended for those who begin in the study of databases. This course gives you an excellent introduction to SQL.

Frequently asked questions

To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Certificate, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.

¹ Some assignments in this course are AI-graded. For these assignments, your data will be used in accordance with Coursera's Privacy Notice.