SQL programming is one of the handiest skills to learn if you want to pursue a career in data science. It’s easy to master, efficient, and widely applicable across many industries.
If you’re hoping to become an expert in data management or data analysis, SQL should be at the top of your skill list. Not only is it a unique programming language to learn, but there are limitless creations to be made with SQL.
What is SQL Programming?
SQL, which stands for Structured Query Language, is a programming language used to access and manage data using databases. It is the most commonly used database language by programmers, so it is an in-demand skill for many jobs.
Unlike traditional spreadsheets, SQL programming allows data scientists and database administrators to store, organize, and analyze significant amounts of data. Instead of working with a few hundred cells of data, you can work with millions.
It also simplifies tasks because the language can query data. If you are looking for information with specific parameters, SQL programming allows you to retrieve that information quickly and effortlessly. You only need to set a command for a time frame or numerical amount, and voila — it’s done.
SQL programming requires a database system such as Microsoft SQL, MySQL, or PostgreSQL. Each database system offers unique features, but any can work with SQL.
What Can You Create With SQL Programming
SQL can create a number of kinds of projects. Many technology careers need SQL to understand data and perform daily tasks.
For instance, database administrators can use SQL to collect volunteer information at a non-profit organization or organize student data for a university. Through SQL programming, developers can gather user information for an app or analyze customer information for a retail website. More abstractly, data scientists utilize SQL to solve difficult problems and provide insights to a company.
If a project requires recording a lot of data or needs a database system, then SQL can create a program that makes sense of what information is collected.
SQL Programming Across Different Industries
SQL can be used across different industries and perform a variety of functions. It can simplify past procedures, solve problems, or unlock new findings. Here is how SQL can be a beneficial tool across several industries.
Music Industry
Music apps like Spotify and Apple Music provide access to millions of songs and artists. They also allow users the ability to curate personalized playlists and radio stations.
When users sign up and create personalized lists based on their preferences, they also provide access to their personal information and insights on their music taste.
Music insights analysts, data scientists, and similar positions at these music streaming services use SQL to analyze trends and engagement. By analyzing this data, they can develop strategies that can allow these streaming services to thrive in the long run.
This strategy also applies to other streaming services and applications. Industries yearn to understand data because it can lead to new findings that reveal a customer’s wants and needs. SQL programming can store and manipulate large amounts of data to uncover these findings.
Finance Industry
The finance industry records tons of numerical data from transactions, loans, and credit cards. They also have to monitor data from other agencies that provide an extra layer of security to ensure that money is protected.
Finance professionals use SQL to track financial data. Financial analysts responsible for analyzing a business’s finances use SQL to help investors with decision-making.
According to an article from Forbes, a financial analyst found that learning SQL made her better at her job. Since most data that she analyzed came unstructured, SQL allowed her to organize and filter through data. This, in turn, allowed her to find data trends and speed up the discovery process of her work.
Utilizing SQL programming in the finance industry improves current processes in financial analysis. It simplifies processes and makes challenging parts of the jobs easier.
Construction Industry
As far back as the late 1990s, the construction industry applied SQL to project management, contract management, and other daily responsibilities.
“In an industry such as construction, where the daily workplace can vary from an office to a job site, the collection, management, and sharing of information is critical to running a business efficiently,” said Gary Cooke, industry marketing manager for construction at Microsoft in a press release.
SQL is adaptable and can allow construction managers to juggle all of these tasks. It also can track past performance on projects so that construction businesses improve their efficiency.
Medical Industry
The medical industry is responsible for helping millions of patients — from those who have temporary illnesses like the flu to powerful and life-threatening diseases like cancer.
Patient data and notes recorded during visits are integral to diagnosing a medical issue and providing an adequate solution or treatment.
Clinical data managers with knowledge of SQL can store patient data and retrieve it years later if need be. It can also track the performance or progress of treatment.
Medical professionals and workers can also utilize SQL to improve internal organization and efficiency. It can monitor volunteer involvement or scheduling for doctors and nurses.
While certain professions may have different goals or tasks involving data, SQL programming aims to make data easier to organize and understand. It can be an eye-opening programming language that unlocks new opportunities for personal career growth.
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Sophia Acevedo
Sophia Acevedo is a journalist based in Southern California. She is a 2020 graduate from California State University, Fullerton, and a proud Daily Titan alum.
This article was published on: 07/7/21 12:05 AM
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