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Quite frequently I encounter this question, that why should I learn SQL. This article on top 10 reasons to learn SQL, is aimed to tell you how important it is nowadays to understand SQL. But before that, let me tell you what is SQL.
What is SQL?
Structured Query language (SQL) is pronounced as “S-Q-L” or sometimes as “See-Quel” which is the standard language for dealing with Relational Databases. SQL is effectively used to insert, search, update, delete, modify database records. It doesn’t mean SQL cannot do things beyond that. In fact, it can do a lot more other things as well. That was about SQL in short. If you wish to know more about SQL and its commands, you can refer to my article on SQL Tutorial.
Knowing about what is SQL, if you are searching for the best reasons to invest time to learn SQL with a view to becoming a user, investor or developer? Here are my 10 picks:
Now, let me help you to understand these in more detail.
Top 10 Reasons To Learn SQL:
10. Easy To Learn
Structured Query Language or most commonly known as SQL is used to retrieve, manage and access data present in the databases, with the help of simple queries. These queries can be easily understood, as they are quite similar to the English language. For example, if you have to create a table named Students, then you have to write a query as follows:
CREATE TABLE Students;
Here, if you observe we have used the SQL Keywords CREATE and TABLE to create a simple table. Also, I believe that SQL is a great start to your journey of programming, as when you start understanding how a computer works, it becomes much easy to learn the structure of new programming languages like Java, Python, Golang, etc.
Once, you master writing SQL queries, you will understand how simple queries can be combined together to do data manipulation. Not only this, but you will also be able to develop your own projects and connect it to the database, run Machine Learning projects and also use SQL on various platforms.
9. Standardization
SQL was developed in the 1970s at IBM Corporation, Inc., by Donald Chamberlin and Raymond F Boyce. It was initially called SEQUEL and was later changed to SQL. Being such an old language, SQL has been used for the past 40 years, and will definitely be used in the upcoming years. Not only this, but the syntax and commands of SQL have not changed from the time, SQL has been developed. So, if you learn SQL today, then a few years down the lane, you do not have to update your knowledge much in the upcoming years.
Also, SQL has been the standard language to manage data in the databases for multiple platforms like MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQLite, MS SQL Server, etc. So, in my eyes, it is clear that, if I learn SQL, then automatically you will have the knowledge of MySQL, PostgreSQL, etc.
8. Perform Data Mining
All of us working with applications and databases, often tend to perform CRUD operations. Well, knowing SQL will help you to easily get the information from data at high efficiency. With the help of SQL queries, you can view update events, monitor table, and database activity, identify specific data at time intervals and retrieve the information based on the requirement.
In this way, SQL makes sure that business operates more effectively, as you can also use SQL to extract the key trends of the company with high performance.
7. Manage Humongous Amounts Of Data
In real-world applications, we often see large amounts of data being generated on a daily basis. How do you think we can handle this data? Well, the first thought that crosses our minds is to use spreadsheets. But, the problem with spreadsheets is that they can be only used to manage small to medium-sized pools of data. To handle large-sized pools of data, you need a solution with greater performance. Here, to solve our problems with large-sized data, SQL shines. SQL can handle data pools of all sizes with ease.
When we access an application, the data retrieved based on our request comes from the database. SQL is used to create and manage servers. With the knowledge of SQL programming language, you can easily navigate through humongous amounts of data and understand how to retrieve data from a web application.
5. Quick Access To Data
Since we know that SQL can manage humongous amounts of data, let me tell you that SQL can access data in a really quick manner. Whenever a user wants to access data, he /she can easily access data within seconds. This is due to because data is stored in an organized manner using SQL. With such quick access to data, the business can operate at a higher efficiency.
4. Data Manipulation
Since SQL is used to view, manage and access that data, it is well suited for Data Manipulation. It gives the users an easier time to test and manipulate the data. Furthermore, data stored in SQL is dynamic. So, you can go forward and manipulate the data at any instance of time.
Apart from this, SQL is the base of many data visualization tools like Tableau and Google Data Studio, So, once you learn SQL, it will help you understand better about what happens when you create a report in any data visualization tool. For example, if you have some information in the SQL database, and you are trying to connect your database to any data visualization tool. Then, you will see two options: Connect as a table and Apply a custom query. Here, if you choose to apply a custom query, then you can go forward and transform the data according to your requirements.
3. Combine Data From Multiple Sources
It often happens that we wish to combine data from multiple sources, but this can be a time-consuming task. When you use SQL, it makes it very easy to combine data from multiple sources. This is done by using the UNION operations, in which you have to mention fields or databases which must be combined.
2. Simple Troubleshooting
SQL is one of those programming languages in which you can easily troubleshoot the issues. For example, if there is a syntax error, then the error which is displayed clearly shows what is missing in the command which you have used, or what is misspelled or if any indicator is mentioned at the wrong place. Apart from this, if you are trying to use a database or a table that does not exist, the error displays that the database or the table does not exist.
Just like the other programming languages, you can use the concept of exception handling in SQL to try and catch exceptions when there is an issue with the SQL command executed.
1. High Paying Jobs
From startups to established companies, the job market looks good for SQL enthusiasts and it is expected to grow exponentially in the coming years. SQL Programmers/ Developers have good opportunities in all the geographies. Consider the below graph for the SQL Developer salary trend in the UK.
Source: itjobswatch.co.uk
In another survey conducted by Indeed and PayScale the average salary for SQL Developers in India and US are as follows:
India:
According to Indeed.com, the average salary of SQL Developer is as follows:
According to PayScale, the average salary of SQL Developer is ₹428K. Refer below.
US:
According to Indeed.com, the average salary of SQL Developer is as follows:
According to PayScale, the average salary of SQL Developer is $73K. Refer below.
Apart from the salaries, SQL skills are in high-demand because almost every technical role requires an understanding of SQL. It could be any industry like Finance, Accounting, Web Development, Digital Marketing, etc. So, go forward and learn SQL to advanced your skillset.
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Got a question for us? Please mention it in the comments section of this “Top 10 reasons to learn SQL” article and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
