SQL Basics

Name: SQL Basics
Availability: InStock
Author: FreeAcademy

44Lessons

BeginnerLevel

FreeCertificate

Master the fundamentals of SQL from scratch. Learn to query, manipulate, and design databases using PostgreSQL. Build real-world database systems through hands-on exercises and a capstone project. No prior database experience required.

What you'll learn

Write SELECT queries with WHERE, ORDER BY, and JOIN clauses against real PostgreSQL tables
Insert, update, and delete records safely while handling NULL values and data types
Combine data from multiple tables using INNER, LEFT, RIGHT, and FULL OUTER JOINs
Use aggregate functions, GROUP BY, and HAVING to produce summary reports
Design a normalized relational schema with primary keys, foreign keys, and indexes

About This Course

SQL Basics is a free beginner course that takes you from zero database experience to confidently writing queries, manipulating data, and designing relational schemas using PostgreSQL. Starting with the fundamentals of how databases store data on disk and how SQL compares to NoSQL and vector alternatives, you progress through every layer of practical database work: filtering and sorting results, inserting and updating records, handling NULL values, and joining multiple tables. By the time you reach the aggregate functions and grouping module, you will be writing the kind of analytical queries that show up daily in business and research contexts.

The second half of the course builds on those foundations with advanced techniques including subqueries, common table expressions (CTEs), CASE statements, and string pattern matching with LIKE and ILIKE. Module 7 covers database design from scratch: creating tables, setting up primary and foreign keys, applying normalization rules (1NF through 3NF), and adding indexes to keep queries fast. Everything culminates in a capstone project where you design a business database schema, load sample data, and write reports from it.

This course suits students, analysts, researchers, and anyone who works with data and wants to query it directly rather than relying on pre-built tools. No prior programming or database background is needed. The course is completely free, and completing all modules plus the final exam earns you a certificate of completion you can add to your LinkedIn profile or resume.

Course Content

8 modules • 44 lessons

Module 1: Understanding SQL and Databases

4 lessons

1.1

Why SQL Databases Dominate

Module 2: Writing Your First SQL Queries

4 lessons

2.1

Setting Up Your SQL Environment (PostgreSQL)

2.2

Your First SQL Query - SELECT Basics

2.3

Filtering Data with WHERE

2.4

Sorting Results with ORDER BY

Module 3: Working with Data

6 lessons

3.1

INSERT - Adding New Data

3.2

UPDATE - Modifying Existing Data

3.3

DELETE - Removing Data

3.4

Data Types in SQL

3.5

Working with NULL Values

3.6

Best Practices for Data Manipulation

Module 4: Querying Multiple Tables

6 lessons

4.1

Understanding Relationships and Keys

4.2

INNER JOIN - Combining Related Data

4.3

LEFT JOIN and RIGHT JOIN

4.4

FULL OUTER JOIN

4.5

Self Joins and Multiple Joins

4.6

When to Use Which Join

Module 5: Aggregate Functions and Grouping

5 lessons

5.1

COUNT, SUM, AVG, MIN, MAX

5.2

GROUP BY - Organizing Results

5.3

HAVING - Filtering Groups

5.4

Combining Aggregates with Joins

5.5

Common Aggregation Patterns

Module 6: Advanced Query Techniques

6 lessons

6.1

Subqueries in SELECT, FROM, and WHERE

6.2

Common Table Expressions (CTEs)

6.3

CASE Statements for Conditional Logic

6.4

DISTINCT and Removing Duplicates

6.5

LIMIT and Pagination

6.6

String Functions and Pattern Matching (LIKE, ILIKE)

Module 7: Database Design Fundamentals

6 lessons

7.1

Creating Tables with CREATE TABLE

7.2

Primary Keys and Constraints

7.3

Foreign Keys and Referential Integrity

7.4

Indexes - Making Queries Faster

7.5

Basic Normalization (1NF, 2NF, 3NF)

7.6

Schema Design Best Practices

Module 8: Practical SQL Projects (Capstone)

7 lessons

8.1

Project Overview - Building a Business Database

8.2

Designing Your Schema

8.3

Loading Sample Data

8.4

Common Business Queries

8.5

Creating Reports with SQL

8.6

Performance Optimization Basics

8.7

Next Steps in Your SQL Journey

Reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this SQL Basics course actually cover?▼

The course covers eight modules: understanding databases and SQL, writing SELECT queries in PostgreSQL, inserting and manipulating data, joining multiple tables, aggregate functions and grouping, advanced techniques like CTEs and CASE statements, database design and normalization, and a capstone project building a real business database from scratch.

Is this course free?▼

Yes, the entire course is free. No credit card or signup is required to start learning.

Do I need any programming experience to enroll?▼

No prior experience is required. The course starts with the very basics of how databases work and builds up gradually, so complete beginners can follow along from the first lesson.

Which database tool does this course use?▼

The course uses PostgreSQL throughout. The first lesson in Module 2 walks you through setting up your PostgreSQL environment, and all hands-on exercises run against it.

Will I receive a certificate when I finish?▼

Yes. Completing all modules and passing the final exam earns you a certificate of completion that you can share on LinkedIn or include in a job application or academic portfolio.

SQL Basics

44Lessons

BeginnerLevel

FreeCertificate

What you'll learn

Write SELECT queries with WHERE, ORDER BY, and JOIN clauses against real PostgreSQL tables
Insert, update, and delete records safely while handling NULL values and data types
Combine data from multiple tables using INNER, LEFT, RIGHT, and FULL OUTER JOINs
Use aggregate functions, GROUP BY, and HAVING to produce summary reports
Design a normalized relational schema with primary keys, foreign keys, and indexes

About This Course

Course Content

8 modules • 44 lessons

Module 1: Understanding SQL and Databases

4 lessons

1.1

What is SQL and Why Learn It?

1.2

Understanding Databases - How Data is Stored on Disk

1.3

SQL vs NoSQL vs Vector Databases

1.4