Computer Science 101

Web Access to Databases

SQL Basic Queries

SQL Introduction
Structured Query Language
Originally called SEQUEL from Structured English QUEry
Language
SQL has a standard
SQL provides both
Data Definition Language (DDL)
Data Manipulation Language (DML)

DBMS may provide higher level approach, but SQL is

important for tougher queries, using host programming or
web programming.

SQL - Basic Queries

Basic form of SQL query:
SELECT <attribute list>
FROM <table list>
[WHERE <condition>]
<attribute list> would be a list of columns separated by commas,
etc.
[ ] enclose optional clauses
SQL is not case sensitive

SQL - Basic Queries -Conceptually

SELECT <attribute list>

FROM <table list>
[WHERE <condition>]

Step 1: Make long rows by combining rows from the various

tables in FROM clause in every possible way each row in first
table with each row in second table with each row in third table,
etc.
Step 2: Keep the long rows that satisfy WHERE condition.
Step 3: Keep only columns specified in SELECT.

SQL - Basic Queries

Example: Pose a query to get the names of
all students:
SELECT LastName, FirstName
FROM Students

SQL - Basic Queries (cont.)

Names of freshmen students

SQL - Basic Queries (cont.)

Names of students from Fredericksburg

SQL - Basic Queries (cont.)

Names of students from Fredericksburg

SQL - Basic Queries (cont.)

Names of students from Fredericksburg

SQL - Basic Queries (cont.)

Dump the Students table:
SELECT * FROM Students
Get names of departments having majors in
our database
SELECT Department FROM Majors
SELECT DISTINCT Department
FROM Majors

SQL - Basic Queries Joining tables

based on foreign key
Connecting students with their advisors:

Students(StudentID,FirstName, LastName, ClassYear,

City, State, Zip, BirthDate, AdvisorID, Term)
we need to have AdvisorID = FacultyID

Faculty (FacultyID, FirstName, LastName, Phone, EMail)

SQL - Basic Queries Joining tables

based on foreign key
Connecting majors with their department chairs:

Majors(MajorID, MajorName, Department, ChairID)

we need to
have ChairID
= FacultyID
Faculty
(FacultyID,
FirstName,

LastName, Phone, EMail)

SQL - Basic Queries

Joining tables
Student last name, advisor last name

OR (aliasing)

SQL - Basic Queries

Joining tables

SQL - Basic Queries Joining tables

based on intermediate table
Connecting students with their interests:

Students(StudentID,FirstName, LastName, ClassYear,

City, State, Zip, BirthDate, AdvisorID, Term)
we need toStudentInterest(StudentID,
have
InterestID)
Students.StudentID = StudentInterest.StudentID
Interests(InterestID,
InterestName, Category, URL)
AND StudentInterest.InterestID
= Interests.InterestID

SQL - Basic Queries Joining tables

based on intermediate table
Connecting students with majors:

Students(StudentID,FirstName, LastName, ClassYear,

City, State, Zip, BirthDate, AdvisorID, Term)
StudentMajor(StudentID, MajorID)

we need to have

Students.StudentID
= StudentMajor.StudentID
Majors(MajorID,
MajorName, Department, ChairID)
AND StudentMajor.MajorID = Majors.MajorID

SQL - Basic Queries

Joining tables (cont.)
Student last name, first name, name of NFL team student is interested in.

SQL - Basic Queries

Joining tables (cont.)