Can I Learn SQL For Free?

With today’s access to free information it is very possible to learn the basics of SQL for free. Access to the internet, videos, walk-throughs, essays, public forums, and more allows you the ability to comb through the wealth of information to gain some practical knowledge and skills. 

What Free Resources are Available for Learning SQL?

The internet is your treasure trove. Websites like W3Schools, Khan Academy, and SQLZoo offer free SQL tutorials, interactive exercises, and documentation that allow you to dive in, explore, and absorb the fundamentals. Platforms like YouTube host countless SQL video tutorials. From setting up databases to writing queries, these visual walkthroughs provide step-by-step guidance. Channels like Traversy Media and thenewboston offer valuable insights.

You’ll also be able to find bloggers and tech enthusiasts sharing their SQL experiences, tips, and best practices. Reading essays on Medium, Dev.to, or personal blogs can deepen your understanding as you learn from their successes and pitfalls. You can engage with fellow learners on Stack Overflow, Reddit, and GitHub by asking questions, participating in discussions, and troubleshooting real-world SQL challenges. 

How to Make Use of Free SQL Resources

Begin with structured learning through online courses or tutorials. Platforms like Codecademy, Simplilearn, and Class Central offer comprehensive SQL courses. Follow their curriculum to build a solid foundation. For visual learners, explore video tutorials on YouTube channels like One Month, Kevin Stratvert, and codebasics.

Next, practice extensively. Solve real-world SQL problems using platforms like SQL Fiddle, W3Resource, and Testdome. Consistent practice is essential for mastering SQL. Stay updated by reading blogs from LearnSQL.com, SQL Shack, and Brent Ozar Unlimited. Engage in communities like Stack Overflow and GitHub for discussions and problem-solving.

Finally, supplement free resources with more structured learning options. Use them alongside bootcamps or live-online classes to further your knowledge and strengthen your skillset. This will give you the strongest and most competitive foundation when entering the job market.

Limitations of Free Resources

Relying solely on free online materials will only provide a surface-level education. Professional SQL training programs offer in-depth knowledge, practical experience, and mentorship that go beyond what free resources can provide. So, if you’re after anything more than the basics, free resources are going to come up short. 

Free resources also lack feedback and guidance, so if you don’t already have a strong background in programming, learning SQL is going to be quite the challenge. Asking questions or clarifying topics won’t be an option. 

How to Supplement Free SQL Resources

Free resources offer great opportunities to help you boost your formal training. You can use any of the tools you find in conjunction with Noble Desktop bootcamps and live-online classes. 

Enrolling with Noble Desktop comes with a wide range of benefits including live, project-based training, the option to retake your course for free within a year, expert instruction, and a verified digital certificate on completion, to name a few. Noble Desktop also offers setup assistance and 1-on-1 bonus training in order to ensure you’re supported before, during, and after your course. Classes are offered both in-person and live online, giving you the option to fully customize how you learn depending on how you learn best. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to enhance your SQL skills, Noble Desktop has courses to fit your needs. If you’re ready to dive into the world of databases and queries, there are many options for you to consider.

Beginners will feel most comfortable starting with SQL Level 1. Students can expect to learn the fundamentals of SQL and relational databases, including SQL syntax, database tables, and writing SQL queries. This SQL starter course will provide you with strong foundational skills to explore the tables, columns, and rows stored in a database and write/code SQL queries to extract and start analyzing that data. Using practical, hands-on exercises, your expert instructor will guide you through understanding the basics of database architecture and will develop your skills in writing real SQL code. By the end of this introductory, hands-on course, you’ll be able to write basic SQL queries for Microsoft SQL Server and learn how to use the free SQL Server Management Studio app to explore the database and execute your SQL theories.

Once you’ve finished SQL Level 1, you can move on to SQL Level 2. In this intermediate SQL course, you’ll build on your knowledge of SQL fundamentals, enhancing your skills to join, filter, group, and analyze data. You’ll also learn how to group data and perform common statistical calculations using aggregate functions. SQL Level 2 focuses on how to use Outer Joins and find NULL data, how to group data and perform common statistical calculations using aggregator functions, and how to change the data type when it’s not what you need. By the end of this intermediate hands-on course, you’ll know more SQL techniques to extract and analyze the specific data you want from the database. This will enable you to more easily turn raw data into actionable insights.

With SQL Level 1 & 2 under your belt, you’ll be ready for SQL Level 3. This advanced course will take your SQL skills to the next level where you will learn about subqueries, views, variables, functions, stored procedures, and more. SQL Level 3 goes over how to add If-Else logic to queries using CASE statements, how to use string functions to get just the part of text you need, and show you how subqueries allow you to grab data from anywhere in a database. You’ll gain a deeper understanding of SQL techniques that will better prepare you for roles in data analysis, data science, and working with data in databases. 

For a more streamlined learning experience, check out Noble Desktop’s SQL bootcamp options. Noble’s SQL Bootcamp is great for beginners or anyone looking to brush up on their SQL skills. Bootcamps are designed to be comprehensive and immersive, so you’ll need to manage your time well in order to benefit from the course structure. In SQL Bootcamp you’ll learn to extract information from databases by writing SQL queries, joining tables, aggregating data, and filtering results. You’ll also be introduced to PostgreSQL, but the concepts will equally apply to other databases such as SQL Server and MySQL. When you’re finished with this bootcamp, you’ll be able to filter data, group it, and turn raw data into insights as well as combine information from multiple tables using joining statements. More advanced techniques like subqueries and how to use functions with parameters are also part of the curriculum. 

Another great bootcamp option offered by Noble Desktop is the SQL Server Bootcamp. This bootcamp equips students with the skills needed to work with databases and extract valuable insights. In this hands-on course, you’ll learn Microsoft SQL Server and use the SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) app to explore databases and execute SQL queries. The course covers fundamental SQL concepts, including viewing tables, columns, and rows, as well as coding queries to extract specific information. Students also learn how to filter data, group it, and combine information from multiple tables using join statements. Additionally, the bootcamp delves into more advanced techniques such as aggregate functions and subqueries. The knowledge gained from this course can be applied to other types of SQL (such as PostgreSQL, Microsoft Access, MySQL, etc.) with minor syntax differences.

Making use of blogs and tutorials while enrolled in any Noble Desktop course will ensure you have the most robust SQL foundation when choosing a career path.