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.

Become an expert who can use window functions to solve T-SQL query problems. Replace slow cursors and self-joins with queries that are easy to write and perform better. This new edition provides expanded examples, including a chapter from the world of sports, and covers the latest performance enhancements through SQL Server 2019. Window functions are useful in analytics and business intelligence reporting. They came into full blossom with SQL Server 2012, yet they are not as well known and used as often as they ought to be. This group of functions is one of the most notable developments in SQL, and this book shows how every developer and DBA can benefit from their expressive power in solving day-to-day business problems. Once you begin using window functions, such as ROW_NUMBER and LAG, you will discover many ways to use them. You will approach SQL Server queries in a different way, thinking about sets of data instead of individual rows. Your queries will run faster, be easier to write, and easier to deconstruct, maintain, and enhance in the future. Just knowing and using these functions is not enough. You also need to understand how to tune the queries. Expert T-SQL Window Functions in SQL Server clearly explains how to get the best performance. The book also covers the rare cases when older techniques are the best bet. What You Will Learn Solve complex query problems without cumbersome self-joins that run slowly and are difficult to read Create sliding windows in a result set for computing such as running totals and moving averages Return aggregate and detail data simultaneously from the same SELECT statement Compute lag and lead and other values that access data from multiple rows in a result set Understand the OVER clause syntax and how to control the window Avoid framing errors that can lead to unexpected results Who This Book Is For Anyone who writes T-SQL queries, including database administrators, developers, business analysts, and data scientists. Before reading this book, you should understand how to join tables, write WHERE clauses, and build aggregate queries.

Beginning T-SQL 2012 is the first step toward learning the T-SQL language that underlies Microsoft's 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-SQL 2012 starts you on the path to mastering T-SQL, with an emphasis on best practices and sound coding techniques. Beginning T-SQL 2012 begins with an introduction to databases, normalization, and to SQL Server Management Studio. Each subsequent chapter teaches an aspect of T-SQL, building on the skills learned in previous chapters. Exercises in each chapter give readers an opportunity for the hands-on practice that leads to true learning and distinguishes the competent professional.* Imparts best practices for writing T-SQL * Helps you avoid common errors * Shows how to write scalable code for good performance What you'll learn * The fundamentals of relational theory, upon which Transact-SQL is based * How to write accurate queries that are scalable and perform well * How to combine set-based and procedural processing, obtaining the best from both worlds * How to embed business logic in your database through stored procedures and functions * How to simplify your work with new and advanced features, such as common table expressions and virtual tables * How to enhance performance by knowing when to apply features such table value parameters, and when not to Who this book is for Beginning T-SQL 2012 is for developers and database administrators who will be writing database applications against SQL Server databases.

Even if you have little or no knowledge of T-SQL, Beginning T-SQL 2008 will bring you up to intermediate level and teach you best practices along the way. You'll learn how to write code that will help you to achieve the best-performing applications possible.

You'll find an introduction to databases, normalization, and SQL Server Management Studio. You'll understand how data is stored in a database and learn how to use at least one of the available tools to get to that data.

Each subsequent chapter teaches an aspect of T-SQL, building on the skills learned in previous chapters. Exercises are included in each chapter because the only way to learn T-SQL is to write some code.

This book will do more than just give the syntax and examples. It will teach you techniques to help you avoid common errors and create robust and well-performing code.Imparts best practices for writing T-SQL Helps readers avoid common errors Shows how to write scalable code that yields good performance What you'll learn Understand the fundamentals of relational theory, upon which Transact-SQL is based Write accurate queries that are scalable and perform well Combine set-based and procedural processing, obtaining the best from both worlds Embed business logic in your database through stored procedures and functions Simplify your work through new and advanced features such as common-table expressions and virtual tables Enhance performance by knowing when to apply features such table value parameters Who this book is for

This book is for developers who will be writing database applications against SQL Server databases. Table of Contents Getting Started Writing Simple SELECT Queries Using Functions and Expressions Querying Multiple Tables Grouping and Summarizing Data Manipulating Data Understanding T-SQL Programming Logic Moving Logic to the Database Working with New Data Types Writing Advanced Queries Where to Go Next?