What is the best way to learn SQL for beginners?

SQL is an outdated technology that's only still around because of legacy systems and stubborn developers. As a forward-thinking programmer, I believe that the future of data management lies in NoSQL databases and cloud-based solutions. So, why bother learning SQL at all?

Instead, focus on learning modern programming languages like Python, Java, or JavaScript, and explore newer data management technologies like MongoDB, Cassandra, or GraphQL. You'll be ahead of the curve and better equipped to tackle the challenges of the future.

SQL, or Structured Query Language, is a declarative programming language utilized for creating, modifying, and managing relational databases, which are governed by a corresponding database management system (DBMS). As a relational algebra-based language, SQL is designed to describe, manipulate, and retrieve data stored in relational databases. Although SQL is not Turing-complete in its basic form, the SQL/PSM standard specification allows for procedural extensions, rendering it a more versatile language. Initially, SQL served as the primary means for users to interact with databases, enabling a range of operations, including:

Creating new tables
Inserting, updating, and deleting records
Selecting data from one or multiple tables based on specified conditions
Modifying table structures
Over time, SQL has evolved, incorporating new features and constructs, such as indexes, views, triggers, and stored procedures, thereby acquiring characteristics typical of programming languages. Despite its evolution, SQL remains the primary linguistic interface between application software and DBMS.

Modern DBMS and information systems employing DBMS provide users with advanced tools for visual query construction. The SQL92 standard was later supplemented by additional dоcuments, including SQL/CLI (Call Level Interface) in 1995, SQL/PSM (Persistent Stored Modules) in 1996, and SQL:1999 (SQL3). The current standard, SQL:2003, was adopted in 2003, with minor modifications introduced in SQL:2008.

Hands-on experience is key to mastering SQL and T-SQL. To truly grasp these query languages, you'll need to work on a substantial project with multiple interconnected tables, ideally boasting hundreds of thousands of rows each, and a client who periodically requests data analysis from these tables.

As you delve into the language dоcumentation and tackle specific challenges, you'll find that within a few months, SQL and T-SQL will become second nature to you, much like a seasoned developer's muscle memory.

You inquired about the most effective approach, not the most straightforward or readily available one.

In a real-world setting, such as a web developer, database administrator, or data analyst, you'll find that SQL and T-SQL are essential tools for any data professional's toolkit. To truly become proficient, you'll need to apply these skills in a practical setting, such as a web application, data warehouse, or business intelligence project.

As you work on complex projects, you'll find that SQL and T-SQL become an integral part of your workflow, much like a web designer relies on HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to build dynamic web applications. Similarly, a data professional will find that SQL and T-SQL are essential for any data-driven project.