Stairway to Database Design Level 9: Normalization
In the final step of Database Design, Joe Celko gives a simple but effective explanation of the normalization process and why it is important.
2019-03-26 (first published: 2011-11-11)
15,308 reads
Joe Celko
Stairway to SQL Dialects Level 3: MySQL
As part of the LAMP stack, MySQL is incredibly important for providing a reliable and platform-agnostic database platform for web development. This level looks at the syntax of MySQL and how to best port SQL code to a MySQL environment.
2012-12-05
4,327 reads
Stairway to SQL Dialects Level 2: Postgres
Level 2 of this stairway explains how to convert data declaration language (DDL) statements and data manipulation language (DML) statements from Postgres to Microsoft SQL Server.
2012-11-14
4,827 reads
Stairway to SQL Dialects Level 1: Overview
In the first level of his Stairway to SQL Dialects, Joe Celko looks at the origins of the SQL language and how the language has spawned the various different dialects in use today.
2012-10-31
5,980 reads
Arrays in SQL that Avoid Repeated Groups
It is certainly possible to fake an Array in SQL, but there are only a few occasions when it would be the best design. Most often, the wish for an array in SQL is a sign of a forlorn struggle against poorly-normalised data. One of the worst sins against Codd is the repeating group, as Joe Celko explains.
2011-07-20
3,438 reads
Improving Comparison Operators and Window Functions
It is dangerous to assume that your data is sound. SQL already has intrinsic ways to cope with missing, or unknown data in its comparison predicate operators, or Theta operators. Can SQL be more effective in the way it deals with data quality? Joe Celko describes how the SQL Standard could soon evolve to deal with data in ways that allow aggregation and windowing in cases where the data quality is less than perfect.
2011-04-01
6,632 reads
The DIS-Information Principle: A Splitting Headache
You can easily re-factor bad DML code, but if a database design is wrong, you can do little to rescue the problem, even with expert queries. So what constitutes 'wrong RDBMS design? What are these errors that continually crop up? How can you recognise them and fix them? Joe embarks on a new series of articles by identifying a series of bad practices based on the habit of 'splitting' that which shouldn't be split.
2010-09-08
2,767 reads
Celko's SQL Stumper: The Class Scheduling Problem
What can we use in SQL instead of E. F. Codd's T theta operators for best-fit? Joe Celko returns with another puzzle that isn't new, in fact it already features “Swedish”, “Croatian” and “Colombian” solutions in chapter 17 of Joe's 'SQL for Smarties' book. These were all written before CTEs or the new WINDOW functions. Is there now a better solution? Was there one even then? We leave it to the readers to provide the answer!
2010-01-25
1,682 reads
Celko's SQL Stumper: The Data Warehouse Problem
Joe Celko comes back with a puzzle that isn't new, but one where the answer he originally gave now seems archaic: It is a deceptively simple problem, but is it true that the new features of SQL have simplified the solution? We leave it to the readers to provide the answer!
2009-09-28
3,505 reads
Celko's Summer SQL Stumpers: Prime numbers
Our first Stumper sees Joe Celko providing a conundrum with a prize for anyone who can come up with a better solution than he can.
2009-07-27
3,195 reads
Blogs
How to Learn SQL Without Quitting Your Day Job
Juggling meetings, deadlines, and family? Yeah, learning SQL might seem like climbing Mount Everest...
SQL Server 2025
By Vinay Thakur
Microsoft announced on November 2024 a preview for SQL Server 2025 another major release...
Advice I Like: Apologies
By Steve Jones
How to apologize: quickly, specifically, sincerely. Don’t ruin an apology with an excuse –...
Forums
SQL Clustered Resource in online pending for about 3-5 mins before coming online
Hello! SQL Clustered resource used to come online during manual or automatic failover in...
SQL Query to use in MS SSRS server to give you your report structure.
Code that can be used in order to create dashboard or SSRS report on...
Temp table security
So, I have an interesting situation that I need a double-check on. One of...
Question of the Day
Escaping Like I
I have this data in a SQL Server 2022 table:
PlayerIDPlayerNamePlayerStatus 1The \%ChampActive 2The ChampActive 3The_ChampionActive 4The__ChampionActive 5The\_ChampActiveHow many rows are returned by this code in SQL Server 2022?
select PlayerName from player where playername like 'The\_C%' escape '\'See possible answers