The Language of SQL, Second Edition

2. Basic Data Retrieval

Keywords Introduced

SELECT  •  FROM

In this chapter, we’ll begin our exploration of the most important topic in SQL—namely, how to retrieve data from a database. Regardless the size of your organization, the most common request made of SQL developers is the request for a report. Of course, it’s a nontrivial exercise to get data into a database, but once the data is there, the energies of business analysts turn to the wealth of data at their disposal and the desire to extract useful information from all that data.

The emphasis in this book on data retrieval corresponds to these real-world demands. Your knowledge of SQL will go a long way toward helping your organization unlock the secrets hidden in the data stored in your ...