What is SQL Server? Microsoft SQL Server Tutorial Guide for Beginners

SQL server is a popular relational database management system that was started by the Microsoft. One popular extension for SQL is T-SQL (Transact-SQL) that is closely related to the SQL language and it adds a plenty of programming constructs too that are native to the SQL. In this tutorial, we will discuss the SQL server basics in details and a set of basic SQL commands that are frequently used by developers.

SQL Server Tutorial Guide for Beginner

In our later blogs, you can read the advanced topics too. As of now, we are restricted to the basic concepts only. Once you will go through the tutorial, you should be on your way to becoming a proficient SQL server developer even if you don’t have any experience. Here is quick list of topics to be covered in the blog:

1. What is Microsoft SQL Server?
2. Uses of SQL Server
3. Best practices in SQL Server
4. A Complete Installation Guide to SQL Server
5. What are the Checkpoints in SQL Server?
6. Why do Companies need Certified SQL Server Developers?
7. A Complete List of SQL Basic Commands

Let us dive deep and discuss the each of the topics one by one thoroughly --

What is Microsoft SQL Server?

SQL means Structured Query Language and this is a Microsoft product used to store or manages information within a database. In technical terms, SQL is a RDBMS “relational database management system” whose theory revolves around two terms – Relational Data base and the Management System. With the help of SQL server, you can always store, access, or retrieve data at one place only. The SQL journey was started in the 1989 by Sybase and later it was sold to the Microsoft. This was competitor product of Oracle and Microsoft has launched more than 14 versions till now. To understand the SQL Server in a better way, let us first discuss the analogy - Relational Data base and the Management System one by one.

What is Relational Database and Types of Relational database?

Relational Database - This is a collective set of data organized in the form of tables, rows or columns etc. With the help of relational databases, this is easy establishing a meaningful relation between multiple database tables. Data can always be shared or retrieved more logically and it simplifies the database interaction too. The possible number of relations exists within a database table include –

What is Management System?

Management System - The other popular term in SQL Server is Management System that is more than an application to store data. There are a set of tools also available to structure, manage, or manipulate data more logically. Additionally, you can avail report writing tools, data management apps, analysis tools, or management interfaces to make things little easier and faster.

Uses of Microsoft SQL Server

Let us discuss a few uses and features of SQL server going ahead the discussion –

• The data access within a database becomes easier and it help sin performing multiple database operations too.
• To access the information in a particular format, you can create databases, tables, or stored procedures quickly.
• To facilitate the data communication, you can use insert, update, delete, select commands frequently.
• To access the data more efficiently, you can create views, indexes, functions, keys etc.
• The roles or permissions can also be defined within SQL whenever needed.
• The data can be accessed from a database by using other programming languages too with the help of SQL modules or libraries etc.

Best Practices of Microsoft SQL Server

Best practices for stored procedures in SQL Server

• You should not add any prefix for stored procedures but prefixes are recommended for user procedures only. If you use any prefix then you should be more consistent for the same.
• The maximum character length for stored procedures should not exceed by 128 characters.
• Try to follow the transactional processing to execute multiple queries together when update, create, or deleting data from a table.
• In case of SELECT queries, there should not be set any limits on count.
• Always define the statement between BEGIN and the END block to use the transactions explicitly.
• You should use the name of schema when you are referencing the database objects.
• Use the catch or try blocks to manage the errors in a database.
• Add the proper comments to define the stored procedures more clearly.
• The stored procedures can be prefixed with table name to avoid any confusion. 

A Complete Installation Guide to SQL Server

• First of all, download the latest SQL server edition from the link https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=29066. As soon as you open the link, you can see the following web page –

• Once you click on the Download option, there are a number of files available to you in the form of 32 bit or 64 bits. Double click on the installation file and it will extract the all necessary files needed for the installation.
• Further, double click on the “Setup Application” and choose the “Installation” option from the left window.
• Now choose the first option from the installation Window and Choose “OK”. Check the product key and move ahead. Accept the license terms and condition and Click “Next”.
• Further, Select the SQL server features, then check the database engine services and Enter the name of instance, and Click Next.
• Now select the service account names and make sure that you have chosen the right service only then choose Collation.
• Now check the right authentication details, select the administrators, and add the Data Directories too. Click Install option at the final step.

With these simple steps, you are done with the installation of SQL server successfully.

Read: What is SQL Server Replication and How it Works?

What are the Checkpoints in SQL Server?

In SQL Server, there are basically four type’s checkpoints. These are Automatic, Indirect, Manual, or Internal etc.

1. Automatic – This is one of the most important check-point running as the process in background and it makes sure that SQL server can be recovered as given in the option.
2. Indirect – This is a new option in SQL Server 2012 that is running in the background and able to meet the targeted recovery time based on database configuration.
3. Manual – Like any other SQL Command, as soon as you issue the checkpoint command, it will run to its completion. This checkpoint is valid for the current database only. Also, there is possibility to define the duration for a checkpoint that is optional. This time interval will explain to you how much time it would in completing the checkpoint.
4. Internal – This is not possible controlling the internal checkpoints for users. It happens when shutdowns are not clear and the recovery model is not certain. It takes place when starting the backup of a database.

Why do Companies need Certified SQL Server Developers?

There are a plenty of applications of Microsoft SQL server in the business world. One of the popular applications is storing and managing data effectively. However, any business that holds most sensitive data or confidential information, they always demand for more secured network system. With SQL server, this is possible to execute the large number of files together with ease. Also, it has a reliable backup system and security mechanism too. In brief, SQL server is a revolutionary idea how businesses can handle their data. However, there is need for a certified expert who can manage database apps more efficiently around the clock. Here, are a few reasons how certified SQL Server Developers bring more value to your Company.

• The certified experts help the organizations in such way that the overall productivity will increase and it ultimately leads to the benefits.
• Certified SQL Developers have better capability of identifying issues and delivering wonderful solutions for the same. Further, it reduces the overall unexpected downtime too.
• The certified SQL experts are always able to handle more responsibilities and start their career right away when compared to normal learners.
• If your business has tight timelines then a Certified SQL programmer can help in bringing improvements and they are money saver options too.

A Complete List of SQL Basic Commands

In SQL server, a number of operations like create, drop, delete, update, insert, truncate are performed on the database. For this purpose, we have to follow a certain syntax to complete each of the operations. Here, is a complete list of basic SQL statements with quick description that you should know when starting with Microsoft SQL Server Training.

Basic SQL Statements	Description and Syntax
Create Database	As the name suggests, this command is used to create a database in the SQL. The syntax is given as below – CREATE DATABASE databasename
Drop Database	This command is used to drop or delete a database in the SQL. The syntax is given as below – DROP DATABASE dbname
Alter Database	This command is used to modify or edit an existing database in the SQL. The syntax is given as below – ALTER DATABASE olddbName MODIFY NAME = newdbName
Create Table	As the name suggests, this command is used to create a new table in the SQL Server. The syntax is given as below – CREATE TABLE tablename { Columname1 datatype(size), Read: What is the time-frame Required to Learn the SQL Programming? Columname2 datatype(size), Columname3 datatype(size), Columname4 datatype(size), ------- }
Delete Table	This command is used to delete records in a database. The syntax is given as below – DELETE FROM tablename Or DELETE FROM tablename WHERE columnname = somevalue
Drop Table	This command is used to drop a complete table in the SQL. The syntax is given as below – DROP TABLE tablename
Alter Table	This command is used to modify or edit an existing table in the SQL. The syntax is given as below – ALTER TABLE tablename ADD Columnname datatype Or ALTER TABLE tablename DROP COLUMN columnname datatype OR ALTER TABLE tablename ALTER COLUMN columnname datatype
Create Index	The command is used to create index for the table. The syntax is given as below – CREATE INDEX indexname ON tablename(columname)
Drop Index	The command is used to drop an existing index for the table. The syntax is given as below – DROP INDEX tablename.columnname
INSERT INTO	The command is used to Insert Data into the table. The syntax is given as below – INSERT INTO tablename(column1, column2, column3,…….,columnN) VALUES (value1, value2, value3,……,valueN )
SELECT	The command is used to Get Data from the table. The syntax is given as below – SELECT column1,column2, column3, ……, columenN FROM tablename Or SELECT *FROM tablename
UPDATE	The command is used to Update Records from the table. The syntax is given as below – UPDATE tablename SET columnname1=value1, columnname2=value2
Create Procedure	To add a new procedure in the SQL database, Create Procedure command is used. The syntax is given as below – CREATE PROCEDURE procedureename @parameter datatype AS BEGIN Select *from tablename where [email protected] END
Drop Procedure	To drop an existing procedure in the SQL database, Drop Procedure command is used. The syntax is given as below – DROP PROCEDURE procedurename
Alter Procedure	To modify a procedure in the SQL database, Create Procedure command is used. The syntax is given as below – ALTER PROCEDURE procedurename @parameter datatype @parameter2 datatype Read: How to Get Your Career as an SSIS Developer Rolling? AS BEGIN Select *from tablename where [email protected] and [email protected] END

Verdict:

With this discussion, you must have a complete idea of What is Microsoft SQL server, its uses, and the basic SQL command. Now you are on the way to become a successful SQL Developers. To gain more knowledge on the platform, you should join the SQL Server Certification program at JanBask Training right away and future-proof your career by acquiring the right skills and knowledge with us.