SQL

The value of SQL is indisputable, as it is the primary language of most modern database management systems. Many professionals now are also adding SQL to their technical repertoire because of the important role it plays in today's business environment. This practical guide is a short and focused introduction to the main features of using SQL to technically competent readers. The book is useful as both a tutorial and a reference, and will include chapter questions and exercises to ground students and professionals in various topics. It does not focus on a particular vendor's SQL implementation and uses syntax that complies with the 1999 standard. Specific DBMS peculiarities will be included on a companion web site, as well as the code for the book. Would the basics of SQL querying be useful to you, but you don't want to start at the very beginning? Do you wish you had an easy way to ramp up quickly to get a basic understanding of key features and capability? Then you need this book! Without a ton of conceptual information or general programming basics you already know, this book is a quick guide for computing professionals and programmers to learn the basics - and more - in an easily digestible way. This book provides tutorial-based instruction for the main features of SQL for programmers and other technical professionals in need of a brief but really good introduction to SQL. The approach is vendor-neutral, very adaptable and flexible, but the books Web site includes information about DBMS-specific peculiarities. The focus is on teaching concepts by walking through concrete examples and explanations. Self-review exercises are included at the end of each chapter. Coverage is on the key features of the language that are required to understand SQL and begin using it effectively. It is SQL 2003-compliant.