Stop Memorizing SQL Part 3 : A Practical SQL Cheat Sheet for Beginners

 A Practical SQL Cheat Sheet for Beginners

When learning SQL, students often struggle to remember the correct syntax during exams or practice exercises. A simple cheat sheet can help quickly recall the most commonly used SQL patterns and commands. In this article, we provide a concise SQL reference that covers essential commands such as SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, and CREATE TABLE. This quick guide helps students translate English instructions into SQL queries with confidence and speed.

Basic Idea of Database

 

Word	Meaning
Database	Collection of tables
Table	Like an Excel sheet
Row	Record
Column	Field

 

 SQL Structure

Remember only 5 SQL words:

·        CREATE

·        SELECT

·        INSERT

·        UPDATE

·        DELETE

 

English → SQL Keywords

 

Word in Question	SQL
Show / Display	SELECT
Add / Enter	INSERT
Increase / Change	UPDATE
Remove / Strike off	DELETE
Create table	CREATE TABLE

 

  SQL Commands

 

Command	Formula
SELECT	SELECT + column + FROM + table
INSERT	INSERT INTO + table + VALUES
UPDATE	UPDATE + table + SET + change
DELETE	DELETE FROM + table + WHERE

 

Learning SQL does not have to begin with memorizing complex syntax. As we have seen in this series, the key is to first understand the intent of the instruction in plain English and then translate that action into the appropriate SQL command. Whether it is showing data, adding records, updating information, or creating tables, most SQL tasks follow simple and logical patterns. The best way to strengthen this skill is through practice—try converting everyday scenarios into SQL queries, such as managing a student list, tracking library books, or updating store inventory. The more you practice translating real-life instructions into SQL actions, the more natural and intuitive SQL will become. Over time, you will find that writing SQL is not about memorization, but about thinking logically and expressing that logic through simple database commands.

Part 2: Creating Tables and Choosing the Right Data Types

 

Stop Memorizing SQL Part 2: Creating Tables and Choosing the Right Data Types

Creating Tables and Choosing the Right Data Types

Before storing data in a database, we first need to create a table that defines the structure of the information. A database table is very similar to an Excel worksheet, where each column represents a specific type of data such as numbers, text, or dates. In this article, we will learn a simple step-by-step method to create tables and choose the correct data types using an easy decision rule. This approach makes it easier for beginners to understand how database structures are designed.

A table in a database is like an Excel worksheet.

An Excel worksheet has:

●       Worksheet name

●       Column names

●       Rows of data

Similarly, a database table also has:

●       Table name

●       Column names

●       Records (rows)

 

 

Table = Excel sheet

 

English sentence

Create a table called student with student id, name, class and stream.

Step 1: Give the Table Name

Decide the name of the table.

Example:
 student

---

Step 2: Identify the Column Names

Columns are the fields that store information.

Example columns:

●       Stud_id

●       Name

●       Class

●       Stream

---

Step 3: Choose the Correct Data Type

We must decide what type of data each column will store.

Use this simple 3-Question Rule:

Question 1: Is it a number?
 ➡ Use INT

Question 2: Is it text or words?
 ➡ Use VARCHAR

Question 3: Is it a date?
 ➡ Use DATE

 

Column	Data Type	Reason
Stud_id	INT	Number
Name	VARCHAR	Text
Class	INT	Number
Stream	VARCHAR	Text

 

Which datatype to choose?

 

3-question rule:

Question 1: Is it a number?
 → INT

Question 2: Is it text?
 → VARCHAR

Question 3: Is it date?
 → DATE

 

Step 4: Write the SQL Syntax

1. Write CREATE TABLE followed by the table name
   
   
2. Write column names with their data types
   
   
3. Separate columns using comma (,)
   
   
4. Do not put comma after the last column

 

 

General syntax:

 

CREATE TABLE table_name

(

column_name datatype,

column_name datatype,

column_name datatype

);

 

Step 5 - Final result

 

CREATE TABLE student

(

Stud_id INT,

Name VARCHAR(30),

Class INT,

Stream VARCHAR(20)

);

 

Part 3 : A Practical SQL Cheat Sheet for Beginners

 

Part 1: Understanding the core SQL commands and how to map English actions to SQL operations

Stop Memorizing SQL Part 1: Understanding the core SQL commands and how to map English actions to SQL operations

 Guide to write SQL using English meanings

Many beginners find SQL difficult because they try to memorize syntax instead of understanding the meaning of database operations. In reality, SQL is very close to everyday English instructions. Words like show, add, remove, or change directly map to SQL commands such as SELECT, INSERT, DELETE, and UPDATE. In this article, we will learn how to identify action words in a question and translate them into the correct SQL command. This simple approach helps students write SQL queries even without remembering complex syntax.

 

English Meaning	SQL Keyword	What it does
Show / Display	SELECT	Read data
Add / Insert / Enter	INSERT	Add new row
Change / Increase / Modify	UPDATE	Modify data
Remove / Delete / Strike off	DELETE	Remove row

 

 4 step method to Create SQL query,  first identify the action word in the question.

 1️⃣ Identify the Action Word

 2️⃣ Identify the Table Name

 3️⃣ Identify the Condition (Which record?)

4️⃣ Write SQL using minimum syntax

Always end final SQL  with “;” ( semicolon)

Example:

Question 1

Strike off the record of student Rahul with student_id 100.

Step 1 – Identify Action

Strike off → DELETE

Step 2 – Table

student

Step 3 – Condition

student_id = 100

Step 4 – SQL using minimum syntax

DELETE FROM student

WHERE stud_id = 100;

 

SQL Part	Meaning
DELETE	remove
FROM student	from student table
WHERE	which record
stud_id = 100	student id 100

 

Question 2

 Add another student who has been admitted with the following details :

 Stud_id – 123

Name – Rajeev

Class – 12

Stream – Science

 

Step 1 – Identify Action

Add → INSERT

Step 2 – Table

student

Step 3 – VALUES

(123,'Rajeev',12,'Science')

Step 4 – SQL using minimum syntax

INSERT INTO student

VALUES (123,'Rajeev',12,'Science');

  

SQL	Meaning
INSERT INTO	add data
student	table
VALUES	New data

 

Question 3

 Increase English marks by 10% of student 123

Step 1 – Identify Action

Increase → UPDATE

Step 2 – Table

student

Step 3 – Condition

student_id = 123

Step 4 – SQL using minimum syntax

UPDATE student

SET English = English * 1.10

Where student_id = 123;

 

SQL	Meaning
UPDATE	change data
SET	modify column
English * 1.10	increase 10%

 

English → SQL Dictionary

 

English Phrase	SQL
show all records	SELECT *
show specific columns	SELECT column
add record	INSERT
remove record	DELETE
modify record	UPDATE
where student id =	WHERE

 

English commands ->  SQL Keyword

 

English	SQL Keyword
Show student data	SELECT
Add new student	INSERT
Remove student	DELETE
Change marks	UPDATE

  

 

Word in Question	SQL
display / show	SELECT
add / enter	INSERT
increase / change	UPDATE
remove / strike off	DELETE

 

Part 2: Creating Tables and Choosing the Right Data Types

Stop Memorizing SQL: Learn to Translate English Sentences into SQL

Stop Memorizing SQL: Learn to Translate English Sentences into SQL

 

Introduction

Many beginners struggle with SQL because they try to memorize syntax instead of understanding the logic behind database operations. However, SQL is actually very close to the English language. Most database tasks can be understood simply by identifying the action being performed and translating it into the appropriate SQL command.

In this three-part series, we will learn a simple technique to translate English instructions into SQL queries. This approach is especially useful for students and beginners who are just starting with databases.

Instead of focusing on complex syntax, we will focus on thinking in English first and then mapping those instructions to SQL commands such as SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, and CREATE TABLE.

The series is organized into three parts:

• Part 1: Understanding the core SQL commands and how to map English actions to SQL operations

• Part 2: Creating tables and choosing the correct data types using a simple decision method

• Part 3: A practical SQL cheat sheet that helps students quickly recall the most important SQL patterns

By the end of this series, readers will be able to read a simple English instruction and confidently write the corresponding SQL query.

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