This language is considered to be easier to learn than other programs due to its declarative, simple syntax. Those with SQL knowledge can extract data from various relational databases such as MySQL and PostgreSQL, since the querying syntax between them is fairly similar. SQL skills have applications in a range of disciplines since most large organizations have gathered a huge amount of data they must sort through and analyze to find important insights. Those with SQL knowledge not only have many career opportunities but also are generally compensated well for their contributions to their organization.
SQL is a Universal Language
Those who are trained in SQL possess a skill set that is likely to bleed into a range of other disciplines beyond computer programming. SQL is considered to be the language of computers. Those who know how to write SQL queries can transition into other coding languages such as C++, JavaScript, or Python. In that sense, SQL can be considered a foundational coding language that can help you acquire other in-demand languages.
In 1986, the first SQL standard was introduced. Since then, it’s become widely adopted and used. This language is no longer reserved for those working with relational databases; it can also be used for non-relational database management systems. Unlike other common software tools Programmers use such as Kobol or C, SQL isn’t reserved for those in programming. It has a range of applications in other data-related fields as well such as data journalism, healthcare management, and financial analytics. Those who know SQL not only can help their company communicate with relational databases, but they also can use this knowledge to have a better understanding of apps they work with every day such as social media and cloud storage.
It’s Relatively Easy to Learn
Although the prospect of learning a programming language may feel daunting to some, especially those who are new to coding, SQL is considered to be one of the easiest to acquire. Some recommend that individuals begin their programming journey by studying SQL since it’s the language used by computers. This means that those with a solid understanding of SQL can translate their knowledge into other languages. Since the basic commands in SQL are similar to those in English (delete, insert, update), they tend to be easy to remember and use since they don’t require becoming familiar with an entirely new syntax.
The syntax, concepts, data formats, and queries in SQL are considered to be easy to remember because they have name-dependent functions. This means that those who learn a particular function will not confuse it with another SQL function. In addition, because SQL has a robust community of developers, those interested in studying this language can find ample resources to aid their learning journey. SQL topics are often posted on websites like Stack Overflow, where many SQL users can weigh in and offer insights.Â
It’s an Open-Source Language
Open-source programming languages are not owned by a single individual. Instead, they are maintained by a community. Open-source coding languages are readily available to the public and are freely distributed with various open-source licenses. This makes SQL a popular tool for Programmers and Developers seeking a community of professionals from whom they can learn.
SQL Can Manage Huge Amounts of Data
Most real-world applications generate huge amounts of data every day. Because of how much data is involved, effectively handling it requires more than spreadsheet capabilities since spreadsheets are more suited toward small and medium-sized volumes of data. When working with large volumes of data, a solution like SQL is able to perform much better. It can handle data pools of any size and do so with ease.
It’s a Flexible, Scalable Language
In most situations, SQL databases are vertically scalable. This means that the load can be increased on a single server by adding more RAM, SSD, or CPU capacity.
SQL provides scalability and flexibility. SQL provides both scalability and flexibility for relational database management systems. This querying language makes it easier for users to design new tables, as well as to delete or drop those that had been created but aren’t being used. Not only can SQL databases handle huge data volumes, but they can also be scaled up or down based on specific application requirements.
SQL Can Help You Structure Your Thoughts
Regardless of whether you aspire to be a Data analyst, data professionals of all varieties benefit from learning SQL because it provides insights into how your organization’s data is structured and what could be gained by combining different data sources. When compared to other programming languages, SQL has a much simpler structure, but it also has the capability to execute complex queries. When you have the training to write these queries yourself, you can access a great deal more information. In addition, this information will be structured such that it can be immediately applied to solving problems. The more you understand a database’s architecture and the logic behind queries, the more time you’ll be able to save when performing data tasks.
SQL Training Helps You Determine When Notto Use a Database
Those who work with SQL on a regular basis not only acquire a better understanding of how databases are structured and how they function, but it also can provide a greater understanding of what should or should not be handled within a database. In some instances, for example, a specific type of data validation may be more performant if it occurs in the application layer instead of if it is enforced by the database. The easiest way to determine whether this is the case is to have a knowledge of SQL and a robust understanding of databases’ performance.
SQL Helps You Perform a Variety of Data-Related Tasks
For more than four decades, SQL has been the standard language of the International Organization for Standardisation and the American National Standards Institute for creating, managing, and manipulating relational databases. Developers use SQL to perform a variety of tasks. It helps them build new databases, as well as insert new data into an already existing database. It also has applications for retrieving, deleting, or modifying data. Developers work with this language to create new tables within relational databases, as well as to set access permissions. It also has applications for creating functions and stored procedures.Â
SQL is In-Demand in Many Industries & Professions
Because of how many organizations are learning the value of collecting and analyzing data, those who have the ability to communicate with databases are in-demand in many professional roles. SQL skills help professionals in cybersecurity protect databases from cyber threats. This language is relied on by those in the finance sector for easy and safe data retrieval, as well as spot trends or patterns in numbers pertaining to sales, revenue, and expense. In the business world, SQL helps Business Analysts pinpoint organizational issues that can affect IT processes, staff development, or the overall structure of the business. SQL allows these professionals to locate pertinent information in databases pertaining to products, customers, and orders. In marketing, SQL has applications for studying customer behavior based on factors like website activity, purchasing patterns, or demographics. In the data science sector, SQL aids with data cleansing, pre-processing, and task aggregation.
Professionals such as Product Managers, Data Journalists, Developers, and Healthcare Administrators work with SQL for data retrieval. Because of how robust and ubiquitous this programming language is, job portals often consider SQL training to be the most in-demand skill set a prospective employee can have. In the financial and technical sectors, in particular, Â
SQL knowledge is considered a requirement for most job applicants. Regardless of their professional focus, SQL skills help individuals manage structured data and aid with client-server tasks.
It’s an Effective Tool for Troubleshooting
When a Developer spots a bug in an application, it can be difficult to determine which layer it originates from. SQL allows Developers to make a direct query to the database. This, in turn, makes it easier to diagnose any problems, as well as to conclude that the database is not the source of the bug. In addition, when a Developer is given a request from a boss or a customer for data that the app was not built to provide, performing a manual SQL query allows them to quickly satisfy the request and locate the pertinent information. In addition, for those who need to backup or recover information, SQL databases have built-in tools for recovery and backup. These tools are useful for recovering data in the event of a crash or system failure.
SQL also is useful for diagnosing issues that occur from regular use. This language can provide a notification of an indicator that was misplaced or even a simple error in syntax. This allows Developers to repair any errors as they go instead of needing to return to them at a later time. This can save a significant amount of hassle and time.
SQL is Effective for Data Mining
Data mining is the act of locating new patterns from within a huge dataset. One of the benefits of working with SQL is that it can retrieve information from a database in a highly efficient manner. Using SQL queries allows data professionals to monitor the activity within the database, locate specific data at time intervals, and retrieve data based on specific requirements. SQL ensures businesses can operate more effectively. It can even be used to extract important company trends.
It’s Secure
One of the features that makes SQL so popular is security. When working with this language, it’s easy to give permissions for procedures, tables, or views. This ensures that only those with permission can access data. In addition, SQL Server is a highly secure database platform. It has a range of features for data encryption, as well as access and authorization limits. It also has safeguards against malicious behavior like destruction or theft.
SQL Training Helps You Bring Value to Your Current Job
If your current job involves regularly working with data, odds are SQL skills can help you bring additional value to your position. Within an organization, each team has specific data needs. For example, those in marketing work with customer needs and use data to evaluate the success of marketing campaigns. Those in engineering or manufacturing departments are concerned with data pertaining to productivity. In accounting, teams leverage big data to evaluate movements in the market. The constant across various departments within an organization is the need for data and for those who can optimize it. Those with SQL skills have the know-how to aid with organization-wide datasets. This is why professionals who know SQL bring value to their current role in their organization by helping generate the most essential data for the needs of the organization. SQL is a powerful tool for consolidating data from different sources, as well as transforming complicated datasets into useful insights.
It Promotes Data Integrity
Data integrity involves maintaining data so that it’s consistent and accurate over the course of its life cycle. It plays an important role in the design, use, and implementation of systems that process, retrieve, or store information. SQL databases guarantee data integrity by imposing constraints such as keys (primary keys, unique keys, and foreign keys). These keys are used to keep data accurate and to eliminate any duplicate values.
SQL Skills Are Sought After by Many Employers
LinkedIn currently has over 600,000 SQL jobs posted. The ability to work with SQL is a sought-after skill by employers who work at organizations of all sizes and types. This coding language helps data professionals efficiently create, retrieve, maintain, manipulate, add, and delete information from relational databases. Organizations that work with databases and languages like SQL that are designed to interact with these databases can handle much more data than they could by using a spreadsheet. As companies continue to transition to using more complex databases, they actively seek out data professionals with the skills and training to quickly access and retrieve database information.
In professions such as web development, programming, or application development, employers value a range of SQL skills. Knowledge of Microsoft SQL Server is one such skill. This server is popular among companies for data storage and retrieval. The ability to create an execution plan of how a database engine performs queries is another in-demand skill. This allows data professionals to understand how efficient a given query is, as well as to troubleshoot those that are underperforming or not functioning, which can help sustain or improve operational data performance. Employers also highly value database management skills, since they demonstrate that a job applicant can create data backups that safeguard against any damaged, lost, or corrupted data. For those interested in pursuing a career that uses SQL, knowledge of how to work with SQL joins is another marketable skill. Join clauses help data professionals merge the data contained in multiple tables to analyze the data more easily.Â
You’ll Be Well-Compensated for Your SQL Knowledge
Data professionals who have SQL training are not only more valued by their organization, but they often make more competitive salaries than those without this training. One of the most common professions that requires SQL training is software engineering. Software Engineers use SQL to create data-driven applications that are used to perform a range of tasks on computing devices. Software Engineers who have SQL training are often paid higher than those who lack this skill set. Pay rates vary depending on location but are typically high throughout the US. The average pay rate for US-based Software Engineers is nearly $110,000, though in cities like Seattle, they make closer to $145,000 annually.
Database Administrators who are tasked with managing database software work with this language to perform data replication, monitor system backups, and perform audits to ensure SQL databases remain secure and easy to access. In the US, the average pay rate for a Database Administrator is $85,000 a year. Those who work in San Francisco receive over $100,000 a year for their contributions. In the field of data science, SQL skills are also required. These professionals work with programming languages like SQL, R, and Python to handle the structured data kept in relational databases and to query these databases to retrieve them for analysis. Data Scientists across the US are paid well for their SQL skills. The average salary for a US-based Data Scientist is more than $125,000. In the Miami metropolitan area, they earn a salary of $130,000.
SQL Isn’t Only Used by Developers
The data analytics process is used in all aspects of business, from the research and development stage to marketing, accounting, manufacturing, and distribution. Without the ability to efficiently query the vast stores of data contained in databases, it would be virtually impossible to perform data analytics. SQL allows data professionals who work in a range of industries to extract useful data from relational databases. Although this querying language was originally developed for Programmers and other IT professionals, it’s also becoming a common tool for those who hold non-technical positions. In finance, SQL has a variety of uses such as banking applications and online payment processors that store data about users’ financial transactions. In social media, platforms like Instagram and Snapchat use SQL to save users’ profile information. Music applications like Spotify and Pandora rely on SQL to process and store user preferences data to offer personalized music recommendations. In healthcare, healthcare organizations use this querying language to study information about patients’ medical conditions, demographics, and treatment plans.
It Makes Data Analysis More Autonomous
Professionals who handle small amounts of data can do so using Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel. However, if larger amounts of data are entered into spreadsheet software, it can freeze because of the excessive data volume that must be processed. One of the main advantages of working with SQL is its capability to extract and manipulate huge amounts of data from relational databases. Moreover, it can do so without having to search through the database by opening all Excel sheets.Â
It Integrates Well with Other Technologies
Some may argue that the onslaught of new technologies such as AI and blockchain, may make SQL obsolete in 20 or 30 years. However, because this querying language integrates so well with new technologies, it’s unlikely to be obsolete any time soon. Azure recently shared that it has developed Azure SQL Database ledger, a solution that combines the simplicity of centralized data storage in SQL with the digital safety provided by blockchain. In addition, Dune Analytics provides free access for users who create basic SQL queries to robust crypto-analytics capabilities. SQL can even integrate with AI solutions because it can supply the necessary data to create and train models for machine learning. Because SQL is compatible with many forms of modern technology, it likely will remain a popular programming language for many years.
SQL Skills Are Likely to Be Needed for Years to Come
SQL has been around since the 1970s and is more widely used than ever before. The demand for professionals with SQL training has been rapidly increasing over the past years to help with tasks like cloud computing operations, application development, data analysis, and high-traffic web portals. Both small and large organizations seek out data professionals who know how to interact with databases to help them with their ever-expanding business demands. There are currently more than 75,000 SQL Developers employed in the US, which is likely to increase as more data continues to be created. A Stack Overflow survey in 2021 listed SQL as the third-most popular programming language in use among professional developers.