What SQL Topics Are Covered in SQLZoo's Reference Section?

Updated

SQLZoo's reference section is a set of "how to..." guides covering nine numbered topics plus two application-focused entries: reading data with SELECT, creating and dropping objects, inserting and deleting records, working with dates and times, using functions, managing users and permissions, querying metadata, SQL Hacks, and an introduction to transactions, followed by guides on using SQL with PHP on Amazon EC2 and with C#. It is a lookup resource for syntax and technique rather than a step-by-step course — the numbered tutorials (0–12) are where you learn by doing.

The reference topics at a glance

# Reference topic What it covers
1 SELECT How to read data from a database
2 CREATE and DROP Creating tables, indexes, views and other objects, and removing them
3 INSERT and DELETE Putting records into a table, changing them, and taking them out again
4 DATE and TIME Working with dates: adding, subtracting and formatting
5 Functions String functions, logical functions and mathematical functions
6 Users Creating users, GRANT and DENY access, accessing other people's tables, finding and killing processes
7 Meta Data Finding out what tables and columns exist; counting and limiting returned rows
8 SQL Hacks Techniques taken from SQL Hacks, published by O'Reilly
9 Using SQL with PHP on Amazon EC2 servers Video tutorials on running MySQL, PHP and Apache on Amazon EC2, plus simpler instructions for students on module INF08104 at Edinburgh Napier University
10 An introduction to transactions Video tutorials on how sessions can interfere with each other and how to stop it
11 Using SQL with C# Code to connect to a database

How the reference fits with the rest of SQLZoo

The site splits its material into three layers, and knowing which one you need saves time:

  • Tutorials (0–12) — the step-by-step learning path, from SELECT basics through joins, NULL handling, window functions, COVID-19 data, self joins, quizzes, student records and DDL/import instructions.
  • Reference — the "how to..." pages above. Use these when you know what you want to do but need the syntax or the exact clause.
  • Assessments and Challenges — more involved examples for confident users, plus multiple-choice tutorial quizzes.

A practical pattern: work a tutorial chapter, then jump to the matching reference page when a clause doesn't behave as expected. For example, after the SUM and COUNT tutorial, the Functions reference is where you check which string, logical or mathematical functions are available.

What the reference does not cover

The reference pages are organised around tasks, not around a formal syllabus. Topics such as subqueries, joins and window functions appear in the tutorial track (chapters 4, 6–7 and 9- respectively) rather than as standalone reference entries. If you are looking for a structured sequence, start with the tutorials; if you are looking for a specific operation, the reference list above is the index.

The site displays an "Anonymous / Not logged in / Log in" state, so some progress-related features may depend on an account, but the reference content itself is presented as part of the public tutorial pages.