Identify common structured query language (SQL) statements

Structured Query Language (SQL) is a widely used programming language for managing and manipulating relational databases. In the context of the Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals exam, there are several common SQL statements and commands that you should be familiar with. These statements allow you to interact with and retrieve data from Azure databases. Let’s explore some of these SQL statements below:

1. SELECT Statement

The SELECT statement is used to retrieve data from one or more database tables. It allows you to specify the columns you want to retrieve, the table(s) you want to query, and optional filtering conditions. Here’s an example:

SELECT column1, column2
FROM table_name
WHERE condition;

2. INSERT Statement

The INSERT statement is used to insert new rows into a table. It allows you to specify the table name, the column names, and the values to be inserted. Here’s an example:

INSERT INTO table_name (column1, column2)
VALUES (value1, value2);

3. UPDATE Statement

The UPDATE statement is used to modify existing data in a table. It allows you to update one or more columns based on specified conditions. Here’s an example:

UPDATE table_name
SET column1 = value1, column2 = value2
WHERE condition;

4. DELETE Statement

The DELETE statement is used to remove one or more rows from a table. It allows you to specify conditions to determine which rows should be deleted. Here’s an example:

DELETE FROM table_name
WHERE condition;

5. CREATE TABLE Statement

The CREATE TABLE statement is used to create a new table within a database. It allows you to specify the table name, column names, data types, and optional constraints. Here’s an example:

CREATE TABLE table_name (
column1 datatype,
column2 datatype,
column3 datatype,
...
);

6. ALTER TABLE Statement

The ALTER TABLE statement is used to modify an existing table structure. It allows you to add, modify, or delete columns in a table. Here’s an example:

ALTER TABLE table_name
ADD column_name datatype;

7. DROP TABLE Statement

The DROP TABLE statement is used to remove an existing table from the database. Here’s an example:

DROP TABLE table_name;

8. CREATE INDEX Statement

The CREATE INDEX statement is used to create an index on one or more columns of a table. Indexes improve the performance of data retrieval operations. Here’s an example:

CREATE INDEX index_name
ON table_name (column1, column2, ...);

9. SELECT DISTINCT Statement

The SELECT DISTINCT statement is used to retrieve unique values from a specific column of a table. Here’s an example:

SELECT DISTINCT column_name
FROM table_name;

10. GROUP BY Statement

The GROUP BY statement is used to group rows based on one or more columns and perform aggregate functions on the grouped data. Here’s an example:

SELECT column1, aggregate_function(column2)
FROM table_name
GROUP BY column1;

These are some of the common SQL statements related to the Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals exam. Understanding and having practical experience with these commands will help you effectively work with Azure databases. Remember to consult the official Microsoft documentation for more detailed information on each statement and its usage in the Azure environment.