Reading Time: 5 minutesIt’s very important to know a thing or two about data types in Microsoft SQL Server. We need to understand the differences between various data types so our tables don’t waste space, and so that our queries perform as efficiently as possible. One such data type we should understand is Continue Reading
The Basics
What is a Candidate Key in SQL Server? Answered!
Reading Time: 7 minutesThere are many different keys in SQL Server that are important to understand. You might have heard the term “Candidate Key” before, but maybe you aren’t exactly sure what that means. Maybe you know a thing or two about Primary Keys and Foreign Keys, but you’re not sure what the term “Candidate Continue Reading
Third Normal Form: A Guide for Beginners
Reading Time: 8 minutesNormalization is a very important process of designing tables to improve data integrity and reduce data redundancy. We were introduced to the concept of Normalization in our previous tutorials about First Normal Form and Second Normal Form. If you missed those tutorials, you should definitely read up on them first! Continue Reading
Second Normal Form: A Beginner’s Guide
Reading Time: 9 minutesNormalization is a very important process of designing tables in such a way that they maintain data integrity and reduce data redundancy. We were introduced to the concept of Normalization in our previous tutorial about First Normal Form. If you missed that tutorial, definitely check it out! In this tutorial, Continue Reading
First Normal Form: An introduction to SQL table normalization
Reading Time: 8 minutesA proper understanding of First Normal Form (and normalization in general) is very important if you are looking to enter the field of database development and design. I have combed the internet and referenced several books I own on the topic of database development and design, and they all have Continue Reading
SQL Server Foreign Key: Everything you need to know
Reading Time: 16 minutesIf you have been working with SQL Server for a while, you might have heard of something called referential integrity. This is basically the idea that references between tables are accurate. In SQL Server, there are plenty of times where we’ll need to reference data from one table in another table. Continue Reading
SQL Server Primary Key: How it works and 6 rules you need to know
Reading Time: 12 minutesIf you are new to SQL Server and the process of database design, you’ve probably heard of the need to create a primary key column in your tables. You’ve likely been told that “every table needs a primary key“. But do you understand why we need a primary key constraint Continue Reading
How to change a column name in SQL Server: Explained for Beginners
Reading Time: 6 minutesSo you need to change a column name in your database. Maybe you messed up the name from the start, or your team decided the name needs to change for business reasons. Either way, it’s got to change. Luckily, the process to change a column name is not too difficult Continue Reading
SQL Server DECIMAL: Everything you need to know
Reading Time: 7 minutesThe SQL Server DECIMAL data type is a very common data type you will see and use in your career as a database professional. It’s important for you to know how it works and the rules for setting it up. DECIMAL is, of course, ideal for when you need to Continue Reading
SQL Server ROLLBACK: Everything you need to know
Reading Time: 9 minutesIn SQL Server, there are plenty of instances where you might want to undo a statement that was just ran. Maybe you wrote an UPDATE statement that modified too many rows, or maybe an INSERT statement wasn’t quite right. In these instances, it is great when the work is performed within a Continue Reading