Practice your SQL skills with these six coding platforms

If you are learning SQL for the first time, you will need to refer to many resources online and offline to gain in-depth knowledge.

But what happens after you learn SQL? How can you bridge the gap from “I’m still learning SQL” to “I can query and analyze large datasets with SQL”?

This is possible only if you practice a lot and become an expert. There are many websites and portals where you can practice SQL for free or for a small fee. Let’s take a closer look at what SQL is, basic skills, career opportunities, and websites where you can practice SQL.

About SQL and databases

SQL stands for Structured Query Language. A language that allows you to interact with databases. SQL is used to manage relational databases, which are actually the most common type of database. The ability to use SQL allows you to do more with your data than just read it. It can be used for ad-hoc data analysis and reporting, as well as broader projects involving multiple tables and complex applications.

The most common database management systems (DBMS) are MySQL, Oracle, and Microsoft SQL Server. Most developers and businesses use one of these DBMSs.

Basic SQL skills that every developer must have.

Not sure how to start learning SQL? Learn the basics. Provides a solid foundation for understanding data usage. Here are some important abilities you should know.

Learn how to organize your database: The first step to mastering SQL is to first understand databases. Learn the basics of database relationships and tables, and how to create a database completely from scratch.

Create SQL clauses and statements: Once you have mastered the fundamentals and building blocks of databases, you will learn the art of using SQL queries to extract the data you need. Once you become familiar with techniques for manipulating data to complete the task at hand, you will be able to learn different phrases and statements.

Manage SQL databases: If you’re considering a career in IT (or data science), it’s essential to master database management skills and configure databases for scalable expansion. .

Using common databases such as MySQL and PostgreSQL: Learn how to work with common database management systems that use SQL as their primary language.

Master PHP: You’ll rarely find MySQL mentioned without PHP mentioned in the same paragraph. This is a well-known open source programming language that can communicate with MySQL, and a thorough understanding of these languages ​​will help you tackle a wide range of projects.

Learn about the technical aspects of SQL data analysis for marketing. SQL is very important in the field of marketing. This gives experts a deeper understanding of user behavior and purchasing patterns, allowing marketing teams to effectively focus on attracting repeat customers and new users.

Create databases using WAMP and SQL: Manage large data collections using WAMP (Windows, Apache, MySQL, PHP) and SQL. (Often referred to as huge data.)

SQL developer career

SQL is a very flexible language and is the primary programming language that virtually all programmers are familiar with. Learning SQL opens many possibilities for your professional career. Here are some of them −

Business Analyst : Business analysts use business analysis to help companies improve their products, processes, and software. If the data you are looking for is relevant for gap analysis, SQL can identify gaps in data such as dates and numbers.

Data Scientist : A data scientist must have some basic tools for analysis and a deep understanding of the basic concepts that support analysis.

Software Engineers : Understanding SQL is essential for software engineers, as complex applications interact with huge databases on the back end.

Database Administrator : A database administrator (DBA) manages the software used to store, manage, and access data efficiently. A DBA typically manages a group of SQL developers. Must be proficient with computers, engineering software, and data design.

Quality Assurance Tester : Quality Assurance (QA) testers are responsible for inspecting new software applications, such as web-based applications, gaming systems, and mobile applications, for defects and other issues.

Now let’s take a look at where you can practice your SQL skills to gain confidence in working with large databases and complex SQL queries.

SQL pad

Another popular product among students for SQL training is SQLPad. One look at the platform and you’ll see that you don’t have to worry about your next SQL interview and can get training from SQL developers and more advanced roles like business analysts, data engineers, analysts, and scientists.

SQLPad offers everything you need to learn about languages. You can watch, practice, and deploy all the skills you learn in a centralized platform right in your browser, and you can access them from any device with a suitable internet connection.

Various interview questions asked by premium companies like eBay, Netflix, Airbnb, Spotify, etc. are provided to help students understand the market requirements more clearly.

SQLPad topics are divided into three segments based on their nature. Single table operations, multiple table operations, and window functions. A curated list of questions can be practiced in an IDE that is compatible with most browsers.

The platform was built and designed by Leon Wei, who has extensive experience in giant companies such as Apple, Chegg, and Amazon. The platform has helped over 4,000 users spread across over 90 countries.

hacker rank

HackerRank is one of the most popular SQL learning platforms on the internet. The platform offers a unique mix of innovative and conceptual questions that help students gain a deeper understanding of theory and strengthen their critical thinking skills.

Built-in difficult tests are tagged with one of three categories based on difficulty. Easy, medium, hard. Beginner tests are easy and allow users to familiarize themselves with the early basics of the language. Once students answer correctly and start facing challenges, they move on to tests of medium difficulty and eventually to difficult levels. This gradual transition from basic foundational questions to derived conceptual questions trains students to be one of the hottest trends in the market.

leet code

LeetCode is a comprehensive platform that provides an exhaustive list of topics and subtopics categorized across premium and non-premium plans. It also provides solutions to all the tests available on the platform to understand the best way to address the issue. On top of that, LeetCode has personalized monthly and weekly plans that students can mimic in their own schedules to prepare for deadlines.

Similar to SQL Pad, LeeCode also provides questions from major technology companies such as Google, Amazon, Facebook, Microsoft, Apple, and Bloomberg. The LeetCode platform, unlike many others, is not limited to SQL programming, but also offers training and classes on almost every important language popular among developers and development companies around the world. Currently, 14 popular coding languages ​​are supported.

LeetCode’s popular tool, Playground, helps developing developers test, debug, and even create projects online. This innovative company’s mission is to help everyone better themselves with access to a wide range of interview resources from many companies. Their students have reportedly held key interviewing roles at major companies such as Facebook, Apple, Uber, Amazon, and Intel.

LeetCode Venture does not limit candidates. Yet, in this era where there is fierce competition among companies to hire the right talent, it also helps businesses, startups, and corporations to identify and select the right candidates. A number of services offered by companies include sponsored contests offering online assessments and training.

mode

The beauty of the internet is the diversity it offers. Among the companies and platforms that offer categorized topics based on the functionality of the code, Mode offers an entire SQL learning plan based on the complexity associated with it.

The overall structure of Mode’s curriculum falls into three obvious and simple categories: Basic SQL, Intermediate SQL, and Advanced SQL. These categories are pools of lessons offered to students. This makes it a favorite destination for all kinds of students looking to learn the nuances of this database language.

By categorizing their plans, students also know how much to immerse themselves in learning. For example, a product manager only needs to learn the basics of SQL, while a database engineer needs to progress to an advanced level.

Another feature of the modes that resonated with learners is that practice questions are provided at the end of each mode. It helps students assess their own learning and proves to be an influential resource when revisiting a topic.

devs killer

DevSkiller ‘s platform prides itself on being an industry-driven platform for evaluating and growing technology talent, and for all the right reasons. Over the years since its inception, DevSkiller has grown as one of the key learning forces in IT hubs. It’s built by developers, for developers, making it one of the platforms most closely related to the issues and challenges that tech giants face in their careers.

DevSkiller’s SQL online tests are designed according to the requirements of different roles offered in the field, and the preliminary tests are for junior SQL developers. This helps aspiring developers understand the needs of the sought-after position, but also helps keep the entire preparation plan relevant to the job description.

Recommended roles for the SQL online test are Data Analyst, Database Administrator, SQL Developer, Database Engineer, Database Specialist, Junior/Senior SQL Developer, and Data Entry/Quality Technician.

The tests provided by the platform are based on real-world testing methodologies. This intelligent technology allows users to assess their coding skills, problem-solving abilities, and time management, as well as analyze their knowledge of different SQL versions.

test dome

TestDome is another great website that offers skill assessment tests for job seekers. What makes these tests so noteworthy is that some companies also use them to test interview candidates. Therefore, this is the most appropriate set of skill assessment tests on the market. 7,000 companies and 450,000 candidates use these tests to assess their skills.

What sets TestDome apart from other players in the club is that the website is primarily designed for companies that hire technical talent. In a sense, the tests provided by this platform were used by companies like eBay, Indeed, the NHS, and PayPal to hire the next right person. Over the years, the relevance of the questions asked on these tests has drawn hundreds of thousands of test takers to this website.

SQL course

We’ve talked a lot about the tests, quizzes, assignments, and questions you should have when taking your next SQL interview. However, this requires practicing queries and understanding the underlying logic and algorithms behind those concepts.

Here are the top three SQL courses available on the internet. These learning materials have been praised time and again for their clarity, reliability, compliance with the latest market standards and, in fact, very low cost of delivery. .

Learn SQL with Udacity

Start with the Learn SQL Nanodegree program from Udacity. This is because it is the most popular among enthusiasts learning the SQL language. This course is designed to keep SQL as the core language of big data analysis, providing insight-based decision-making and strategy for your projects.

This course from Udacity is designed to help users analyze data stored in relational and non-relational databases. At the end of this course, users will be able to determine, create, and execute SQL and NoSQL queries to manipulate and analyze large databases.

Complete SQL Bootcamp on Udemy

Anyone who is in the technology industry or looking to get into it has likely heard of Udemy. It is the most popular learning platform, offering over 1,000 courses from development to artistry.

Udemy’s Complete SQL Bootcamp is a comprehensive guide to go from beginner to advanced. By the end of the bootcamp, you will be able to use SQL to query databases, perform data analysis, and query reports replicating real-world situations.

Introduction to SQL with DataCamp

DataCamp is another great platform that offers many courses on technical and non-technical streams. Introduction to SQL is a free course that helps you learn the basics of querying tables in relational databases such as MySQL, SQL Server, and PostgreSQL.

The 4-hour course has 41 exercises and has been viewed by over 1,200,000 people. After testing, you will be able to use SQL syntax that is shared by many different types of databases, including PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server, and Oracle.

conclusion

In today’s competitive market, having the skills to succeed is more important than ever. SQL skills have never been more important than they are today.

Every developer needs SQL skills with the ability to process big data and provide insights to the business. With this in mind, learn how to gain skills and jump-start your career by exploring the coding platforms listed above.

If you want to learn more about databases, here are some great resources for learning SQL and NoSQL.