Key Concepts
We've created a summary of key topics covered in this course to help you decide if it's the right one for you. Click individual badges to see more courses on the same topic.
Course Details
Cost
FREE
Upcoming Schedule
- TBA
Course Provider
Stanford Online online courses
Stanford Lagunita offers a variety of professional education opportunities in
conjunction with many of the University’s schools and departments. We also
offer an array of free online courses taught by Stanford faculty to lifelong
learners worldwide. We foster collaboration with other education
organizations by sharing course material, data-driven research, and source
code for enhancements to our open-source platform Stanford Lagunita. We
continually experiment to improve what we do throu...
Stanford Lagunita offers a variety of professional education opportunities in
conjunction with many of the University’s schools and departments. We also
offer an array of free online courses taught by Stanford faculty to lifelong
learners worldwide. We foster collaboration with other education
organizations by sharing course material, data-driven research, and source
code for enhancements to our open-source platform Stanford Lagunita. We
continually experiment to improve what we do through creative use of
technology, and we share what we learn with the rest of the world.
Provider Subject Specialization
Sciences & Technology
Course Description
This mini-course provides comprehensive coverage of the long-accepted standard
query language for relational database systems. It will be available for an
extended period of time. We anticipate the content will be available at least
until June 9th, 2015. You will be notified by email of any changes to content
availability beforehand.
We have created 14 mini-courses that can be assembled in a variety of ways to
learn about different aspects of databases. Please visit the main Databases
page for suggested pathways and general information, or click View Courseware
above to begin this mini-course.
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- 7 reviews
- 7 completed
4 years, 8 months ago
This mini-course in the [Databases
series](https://class.stanford.edu/courses/DB/2014/SelfPaced/about) from
Stanford Online, looks at the use of the Structured Query Language (SQL) by
Relational Database Management Systems (RDBMS) using a set of example
databases and a series of common query scenarios.
The availability of the example databases and the suggested use of the free
and open source SQLite, MySQL or PostgreSQL RDBMS, allows for experimentation
with the databases, which makes it easier to look at alternative forms of
queries used in the videos. As well as being useful when doing the various
exercises.
The SQL mini-course builds on the earlier mini-courses in the series
("Introduction and Relational Databases" and "Relational Algebra") to build
practical skills around the use of relational databases. However some of
topics are split out in separate courses, which might benefit from some basic
coverage here, in particular ...
This mini-course in the [Databases
series](https://class.stanford.edu/courses/DB/2014/SelfPaced/about) from
Stanford Online, looks at the use of the Structured Query Language (SQL) by
Relational Database Management Systems (RDBMS) using a set of example
databases and a series of common query scenarios.
The availability of the example databases and the suggested use of the free
and open source SQLite, MySQL or PostgreSQL RDBMS, allows for experimentation
with the databases, which makes it easier to look at alternative forms of
queries used in the videos. As well as being useful when doing the various
exercises.
The SQL mini-course builds on the earlier mini-courses in the series
("Introduction and Relational Databases" and "Relational Algebra") to build
practical skills around the use of relational databases. However some of
topics are split out in separate courses, which might benefit from some basic
coverage here, in particular the use of transactions in SQL.
- 0 reviews
- 0 completed
2 years, 2 months ago
Covers all the basic SQL you might need to start and gives plenty of good examples.
The instructor is very clear and concise in her explanations.
As criticism I'd say the course would be easier to follow if minor quizzes were added between videos so you can practice what you just learned about, otherwise you'll have to chew through quite a few videos before you get to the big quiz battery (you can start and try some of them before you watch all the videos but you'll have to pick and choose what you might or might not have learned about it yet which isn't a great learning experience, imo).
David Carvalho
9/10 starsCompleted
2 years, 10 months ago
The content is relevant to anyone seeking to learn SQL querying and data modification. But beware that exercises required to complete the course can be way more difficult and time-consuming than what was presented by the instructor, and you'll be on your own. Nonetheless, these exercises can be quite a brain teaser if you like this kind of challenge.
Student
8/10 starsCompleted
3 years, 5 months ago
This course is mental! It is very stressful to tackle and the sheer lack of business related SQL examples really put me off. It is a miracle that I managed to complete this! If you are (for instance), a computer science major who has a lot of prior knowledge of SQL (both theoretically and practically), then this course is for you. The instructor also makes several assumptions with regard to software installation. There is no step by step video to show the student from where software to practice SQL coding can be downloaded. Also, the instructor seems to present deliberately easy examples in the lecture videos but the exercises (especially the latter half of the questions!) are worded in a very strange and twisted way and can be unnecessarily complex and confusing! Not recommended, especially for someone who is looking to actually LEARN SQL in a straight forward fashion! Pretty much a waste of time!
Student
8/10 starsTaking Now
4 years, 10 months ago
Excellent.
I did get stuck on the exercises, so a bit frustrating and would like to see
an option to get some help/tips when having difficulties with questions (for
example - tip - see presentation .... for review or think about ....)
Student
10/10 starsCompleted
4 years, 11 months ago
I have learnt a great deal about SQL from this course. The video lectures were
straight-to-the-point and covered all that I needed to complete the numerous
exercises. I found the downloadable SQL scripts very useful in solving the
exercises, some of which were quite difficult. It took me about 3 - 5 hours
per weekend for about eight weeks to answer all of them correctly. Thank you
to Prof. Widom and Stanford University for this valuable yet free course!
Student
10/10 starsCompleted
4 years, 11 months ago
This is a really excellent minicourse on the subject. The lectures are very
clear and well organized, and has a lot of exercises of increasing complexity
that really help learning and putting into practice the concepts taught.
Grading is based on passing the exercises, with basically no limit on the
number of attemps.
Student
10/10 starsCompleted
4 years, 11 months ago
This course is great for both learning and refreshing the material. Lectures
are concise and everything important is explained. Exercises are well designed
and practical and truly improve understanding of material.
- 1 review
- 1 completed
4 years, 11 months ago
The Course helps you to familiarize with the topic in a hands-on manner which
is really refreshing. Highly recommended. The course instructor is fabulous
and makes the lectures far from boring
- 1 review
- 1 completed
4 years, 11 months ago
This course is great. The problem I have with it is that there is a big block
of lessons and then the exercices all at the end. Unlike the relation algebra
course where every lesson had an exercise page next. And that is way better
especially to help memory and to familiarize progressively with the concepts.
(I hate the books with the exercises all at the end of a chapter and none in
between)
Student
10/10 starsCompleted
4 years, 11 months ago
A wonderful introduction to the basics of SQL. Professor Widom explains the
concepts clearly and thoughtfully, with plenty of examples. This mini-course
only took a few hours to complete, but the skills I learned have already been
useful to me professionally.