Get a performance-oriented introduction to the T-SQL language underlying the Microsoft SQL Server and Azure SQL database engines. This fourth edition is updated to include SQL Notebooks as well as up-to-date syntax and features for T-SQL on-premises and in the Azure cloud. Exercises and examples now include the WideWorldImporters database, the newest sample database from Microsoft for SQL Server. Also new in this edition is coverage of JSON from T-SQL, news about performance enhancements called Intelligent Query Processing, and an appendix on running SQL Server in a container on macOS or Linux. Beginning T-SQL starts you on the path to mastering T-SQL with an emphasis on best practices. Using the sound coding techniques taught in this book will lead to excellent performance in the queries that you write in your daily work. Important techniques such as windowing functions are covered to help you write fast-executing queries that solve real business problems.The book begins with an introduction to databases, normalization, and to setting up your learning environment. You will learn about the tools you need to use such as SQL Server Management Studio, Azure Data Studio, and SQL Notebooks. Each subsequent chapter teaches an aspect of T-SQL, building on the skills learned in previous chapters. Exercises in most chapters provide an opportunity for the hands-on practice that leads to true learning and distinguishes the competent professional. A stand-out feature in this book is that most chapters end with a Thinking About Performance section. These sections cover aspects of query performance relative to the content just presented, including the new Intelligent Query Processing features that make queries faster without changing code. They will help you avoid beginner mistakes by knowing about and thinking about performance from day 1. What You Will Learn Install a sandboxed SQL Server instance for learning Understand how relational databases are designed Create objects such as tables and stored procedures Query a SQL Server table Filter and order the results of a query Query and work with specialized data types such as XML and JSON Apply modern features such as window functions Choose correct techniques so that your queries perform well Who This Book Is For Anyone who wants to learn T-SQL from the beginning or improve their T-SQL skills; those who need T-SQL as an additional skill; and those who write queries such as application developers, database administrators, business intelligence developers, and data scientists. The book is also helpful for anyone who must retrieve data from a SQL Server database.

Sams Teach Yourself Microsoft SQL Server T-SQL in 10 Minutes offers straightforward, practical answers when you need fast results. By working through the book’s 30 lessons of 10 minutes or less, you’ll learn what you need to know to take advantage of Microsoft SQL Server’s T-SQL language. This handy pocket guide starts with simple data retrieval and moves on to more complex topics, including the use of joins, subqueries, full text-based searches, functions and stored procedures, cursors, triggers, table constraints, XML, JSON, and much more. Learn how to… Use T-SQL in the Microsoft SQL Server environment Construct complex T-SQL statements using multiple clauses and operators Filter data so you get the information you need quickly Retrieve, sort, and format database contents Join two or more related tables Make SQL Server work for you with globalization and localization Create subqueries to pinpoint your data Automate your workload with triggers Create and alter database tables Work with views, stored procedures, and more Contents at a Glance 1 Understanding SQL 2 Introducing SQL Server 3 Working with SQL Server 4 Retrieving Data 5 Sorting Retrieved Data 6 Filtering Data 7 Advanced Data Filtering 8 Using Wildcard Filtering 9 Creating Calculated Fields 10 Using Data Manipulation Functions 11 Summarizing Data 12 Grouping Data 13 Working with Subqueries 14 Joining Tables 15 Creating Advanced Joins 16 Combining Queries 17 Full-Text Searching 18 Inserting Data 19 Updating and Deleting Data 20 Creating and Manipulating Tables 21 Using Views 22 Programming with T-SQL 23 Working with Stored Procedures 24 Using Cursors 25 Using Triggers 26 Managing Transaction Processing 27 Working with XML and JSON 28 Globalization and Localization 29 Managing Security 30 Improving Performance A The Example Tables B T-SQL Statement Syntax C T-SQL Datatypes D T-SQL Reserved Words

SQL Server T-SQL Recipes is an example-based guide to the Transact-SQL language that is at the core of SQL Server. This edition has been lightly updated for SQL Server 2014 and provides ready-to-implement solutions to common programming and database administration tasks. Learn to create databases, create in-memory tables and stored procedures, insert and update data, generate reports, secure your data, and more. Tasks and their solutions are broken down into a problem/solution format that is quick and easy to read so that you can get the job done fast when the pressure is on. Solutions in this book are divided into chapters by problem domain. Each chapter is a collection of solutions around a single facet of the language such as writing queries, managing indexes, error handling, and query performance. Each solution is presented code-first, giving you a working code example to copy from and implement immediately in your own environment. Following each example is an in-depth description of how and why the given solution works. Tradeoffs and alternative approaches are also discussed. • Focused on solutions: Look up what you need to do. Learn how to do it. Do it. • Current: Lightly updated for SQL Server 2014 • Comprehensive: Covers all common T-SQL problem domains

T-SQL insiders help you tackle your toughest queries and query-tuning problems Squeeze maximum performance and efficiency from every T-SQL query you write or tune. Four leading experts take an in-depth look at T-SQL’s internal architecture and offer advanced practical techniques for optimizing response time and resource usage. Emphasizing a correct understanding of the language and its foundations, the authors present unique solutions they have spent years developing and refining. All code and techniques are fully updated to reflect new T-SQL enhancements in Microsoft SQL Server 2014 and SQL Server 2012. Write faster, more efficient T-SQL code: Move from procedural programming to the language of sets and logic Master an efficient top-down tuning methodology Assess algorithmic complexity to predict performance Compare data aggregation techniques, including new grouping sets Efficiently perform data-analysis calculations Make the most of T-SQL’s optimized bulk import tools Avoid date/time pitfalls that lead to buggy, poorly performing code Create optimized BI statistical queries without additional software Use programmable objects to accelerate queries Unlock major performance improvements with In-Memory OLTP Master useful and elegant approaches to manipulating graphs About This Book For experienced T-SQL practitioners Includes coverage updated from and Inside Microsoft SQL Server 2008 T-SQL Querying Inside Microsoft SQL Server 2008 T-SQL Programming Valuable to developers, DBAs, BI professionals, and data scientists Covers many MCSE 70-464 and MCSA/MCSE 70-461 exam topics

" " Beginning T-SQLis a performance-oriented introduction to the T-SQL language underlying the Microsoft SQL Server database engine. T-SQL is essential in writing SQL statements to get data into and out of a database. T-SQL is the foundation for business logic embedded in the database in the form of stored procedures and functions. Beginning T-SQLstarts you on the path to mastering T-SQL,with an emphasis on best-practices and sound coding techniques leading to excellent performance. This new edition is updated to cover the essential features of T-SQL found in SQL Server 2014, 2012, and 2008.Beginning T-SQL begins with an introduction to databases, normalization, and to SQL Server Management Studio. Attention is given to Azure SQL Database and how to connect to remote databases in the cloud. Each subsequent chapter teaches an aspect of T-SQL, building on the skills learned in previous chapters. Exercises in most chapters provide an opportunity for the hands-on practice that leads to true learning and distinguishes the competent professional. Important techniques such as windowing functions are covered to help write fast executing queries that solve real business problems.A stand-out feature in this book is that most chapters end with a ""Thinking About Performance"" section. These sections cover aspects of query performance relative to the content just presented. They'll help you avoid beginner mistakes by knowing about and thinking about performance from Day 1.