Creating tables and columns
Protecting data integrity with constraints

• Guaranteeing uniqueness with primary
key constraints
• Enforcing integrity with foreign key
constraints
• Imposing business rules with checks
constraints

Improving performance with indexes

• Expediting data retrieval with indexes
• Recommending guidelines for index creation

Manipulating Data
Modifying table contents

• Adding table rows with INSERT
• Changing row content with UPDATE
• Removing rows with DELETE

Applying transactions

• Controlling transactions with
COMMIT and ROLLBACK

Working with the SELECT Statement
Writing Single Table queries

• Retrieving data with SELECT
• Specifying column expressions
• Sorting the result with ORDER BY

Restricting rows with the WHERE filter

• Testing for equality or inequality
• Applying wildcard characters
• Avoiding NULL value pitfalls

Querying Multiple Tables
Combining results with set operators

• Stacking results with UNION
• Identifying matching rows with
INTERSECT
• Utilizing EXCEPT to find nonmatching rows

Employing Functions in Data Retrieval
Processing data with row functions

• Conditional formatting with the CASE expression
• Utilizing the CASE expression to simulate IF tests
• Dealing with NULL values

Performing analysis with aggregate functions

• Summarizing data using SUM, AVG, and
COUNT
• Finding the highest/lowest values with
MAX and MIN
• Defining the summary level with GROUP
• Applying filter conditions with HAVING

Constructing Nested Queries
Including subqueries in expressions

• Placing subqueries in the column list
• Creating complex expressions containing
subqueries
• Handling subqueries that return no rows

Developing In-Line and Stored Views
Breaking down complex problems

Subqueries in the FROM clause

Creating views in a database