Itzik Ben-Gan
Outline for
T-SQL Fundamentals for SQL Server by Itzik
Ben-Gan
5-Day (TSQL Fundamentals 2022.1)
Description
Developed and delivered by Itzik Ben-Gan, this T-SQL Fundamentals course is intended for T-SQL
developers, DBAs, data scientists, analysts, and power users. Those who work with SQL Server or
Azure SQL and need to write queries and develop code using Transact-SQL—SQL Server’s dialect
of the ISO/IEC and ANSI standards for the language SQL. The course covers querying topics,
including retrieving and modifying data, and also provides an overview of programmable objects
supported by SQL Server.
This course is intended both for people who just started working with SQL Server, as well as those
with some experience. If you are self-taught, and gained your knowledge “by the seat of your pants,”
this course can fill the gaps in your knowledge and teach you how to think correctly in SQL terms.
This course focuses on the foundations of T-SQL explaining the logic behind the language and its
elements.
There are many aspects of SQL that are very different than in other programming languages. This
course will help you adopt the right state of mind and get a true understanding of the language
elements. You will learn how to think in terms of sets and follow good SQL programming practices.
The course is not version specific; it does, however, cover language elements that were introduced
in recent versions of SQL Server. For recently added elements, the instructor will specify the version
in which the element was introduced.
The course covers core SQL topics, which are delivered in lecture and discussion format. Those
include: Background to T-SQL Querying and Programming; Single-Table Queries; Joins;
Subqueries; Table Expressions; Set Operators; T-SQL for Data Analysis; Data Modification. The
course also provides SQL-supporting topics as self-study units. Those include: Temporal Tables;
Transactions and Concurrency; SQL Graph Overview; Overview of Programmable Objects.
To complement the learning experience, students will be provided with exercises that will enable
them to practice what they’ve learned.
* Note: If you are an experienced T-SQL practitioner and are looking for an Advanced T-SQL course
that dives deeply into the complexities of T-SQL Querying and Programming including coverage of
© Itzik Ben-Gan
Itzik Ben-Gan
performance and query tuning aspects, please see the course Advanced T-SQL Querying,
Programming and Tuning for SQL Server by Itzik Ben-Gan.
Course Materials
Each student will receive:
• A course Workbook
• A digital copy of Itzik Ben-Gan’s best-selling book T-SQL Fundamentals (MSPress)
• A copy of the course’s source code
Author
This course was developed by Itzik Ben-Gan, author of award-winning books and numerous articles
about T-SQL, a Microsoft Data Platform MVP since 1999, and a regular speaker in SQL Server
related events.
Target Audience
This course is intended for:
• T-SQL Programmers and DBAs, Data Scientists, Architects, Analysts and Power Users
• Those who need to write or review code in SQL Server and/or Azure SQL
Prerequisites
It is recommended that students are familiar with basic relational database concepts and SQL.
Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course, the student will:
• Understand the logic behind T-SQL and thinking in terms of sets
• Be able to write T-SQL code to create tables and define data integrity
• Be able to write queries against single and multiple tables
• Be able to write T-SQL statements that modify data
• Get familiar with T-SQL programmable objects
© Itzik Ben-Gan
Itzik Ben-Gan
Course Outline
Core SQL topics, delivered in lecture and discussion format (Modules 1-8):
Module 01: Background to T-SQL Querying and Programming
• Theoretical Background
• SQL Server Architecture
• SQL Server Management Studio
• Creating Tables
• Defining Data Integrity
LAB 01
Module 02: Single-Table Queries
• Elements of the SELECT Statement
• Predicates and Operators
• CASE Expressions
• NULLs
• The GREATEST and LEAST Functions
• All-At-Once Operations
• Working with Character Data
• Working with Date and Time Data
• Querying Metadata
LAB 02
Module 03 - Joins
• Joins
• Cross Joins
• Inner Joins
• More Join Examples
• Outer Joins
LAB 03
Module 04: Subqueries
• Self-Contained Subqueries
• Scalar Subqueries
• Multivalued Subqueries
• Correlated Subqueries
• The EXISTS Predicate
• Returning Previous or Next Values
© Itzik Ben-Gan
Itzik Ben-Gan
• Using Running Aggregates
• Dealing with Misbehaving Subqueries
LAB 04
Module 05: Table Expressions
• Derived Tables
• Common Table Expressions
• Views
• Inline Table-Valued Functions
• The APPLY Operator
LAB 05
Module 06: Set Operators
• Set Operators, Described
• The UNION Operator
• The INTERSECT Operator
• The EXCEPT Operator
• Precedence
• Circumventing Unsupported Logical Phases
LAB 06
Module 07 - T-SQL for Data Analysis
• Window Functions
• Pivoting Data
• Unpivoting Data
• Grouping Sets
• Time Series
LAB 07
Module 08: Data Modification
• Inserting Data
• Deleting Data
• Updating Data
• Merging Data
• Modifying Data through Table Expressions
• Modifications with TOP / OFFSET-FETCH
• The OUTPUT Clause
LAB 08
© Itzik Ben-Gan
Itzik Ben-Gan
Supporting topics, provided as self-study units (Modules 9-12):
Module 09: Temporal Tables
• Temporal Tables, Described
• Creating Tables
• Modifying Data
• Querying Temporal Tables
LAB 09
Module 10: Transactions and Concurrency
• Transactions
• Locks and Blocking
• Isolation Levels
• Deadlocks
LAB 10
Module 11: SQL Graph Overview
• Considerations for SQL Graph Modeling
• Example of Traditional vs Graph Modeling
• Creating Tables
• Querying Data
Module 12: Programmable Objects
• Variables
• Batches
• Flow Elements
• Cursors
• Temporary Tables
• Dynamic SQL
• Routines
• Error Handling
© Itzik Ben-Gan
