T-SQL Fundamentals (4th Edition) Review: Is It the Best SQL Server Book?
An honest review of Itzik Ben-Gan’s T-SQL Fundamentals, 4th edition: what it covers, who it is for, its strengths and weaknesses, and whether you should buy it.
SQL DISTINCT and Column Aliases Explained Simply
How SQL DISTINCT removes duplicate rows (and why it applies to every selected column), how it treats NULL, COUNT(DISTINCT), and how to use column and table aliases, including why an alias works in ORDER BY but not in WHERE.
SQL Server Parameter Sniffing: Why a Query Is Fast in SSMS but Slow in the App
Why the same SQL Server procedure is fast for one value and painfully slow for another, or fast in SSMS but slow in your application, how to confirm it is parameter sniffing, and six fixes with when to use each.
Running Totals in SQL Server: Cumulative Sums and Running Balances
How to calculate a running total and a running account balance in SQL Server with SUM() OVER, reset it per month or account, and avoid the two mistakes that give wrong or slow results.
SQL LIKE, IN and BETWEEN Explained Simply
Search text with LIKE, match a list with IN and filter ranges with BETWEEN, with simple examples, the NOT IN NULL trap and the date BETWEEN mistake that hides rows.
How to Learn SQL: A Step-by-Step Roadmap for Beginners
A clear, 9-stage plan to learn SQL from zero: what to learn first, in what order, how long each stage takes, and a free tutorial for every step.
SQL String Functions Explained Simply (SQL Server and MySQL)
The SQL string functions you’ll use most in SQL Server and MySQL: CONCAT, LEN, TRIM, SUBSTRING, CHARINDEX, REPLACE and STRING_AGG, plus the NULL trap that blanks whole results.
5 Best SQL Server Books for T-SQL Developers
The best Microsoft SQL Server and T-SQL books, from a beginner-friendly tour to Itzik Ben-Gan’s T-SQL Fundamentals and the Administration Inside Out reference.
5 Best SQL Books for Absolute Beginners
Never written a query? These five SQL books are written for complete beginners, from the visual Head First SQL to the hands-on SQL Cookbook.
SQL Server Performance Troubleshooting: A Practical Step-by-Step Guide
A practical, step-by-step process for slow SQL Server queries: describe the symptom, check what’s running and blocking, read the plan, fix indexes and statistics, and measure the result.