SQL for Data Analysis
What is SQL for Data Analysis?
SQL for data analysis refers to the database querying language’s ability to interact with multiple databases at once, as well as its use of relational databases. SQL is one of the most commonly used and flexible languages, as it combines a surprisingly accessible learning curve with a complex depth that lets users create advanced tools and dashboards for data analytics.
To create and interact with databases quickly, SQL has been adapted into a variety of proprietary tools, each with its own focus and niche market, including the popular MySQL, Microsoft Access, and PostgreSQL.
While it remains largely popular for its ability to create and interact with databases quickly, SQL is also commonly used because it is a simple language capable of performing surprisingly complex data analysis. The language’s internal logic and the way it interacts with data sets are quite like tools including Excel and even the popular python library Pandas.
SQL is accessible, can build complex models and analyses quickly, and offers a deep ability for data manipulation. Indeed, simply having an SQL cheat sheet is enough in most cases to get by and thrive when using the language for SQL data analysis. The ability to give SQL simple commands in English for complex procedures means that it is highly popular for users who require complex analytics but don’t know more advanced computer languages.
How can I use SQL for Analytics?
Perhaps the most popular use for SQL today (in all its varieties) is as a base infrastructure to build its and easy-to-use dashboards along with reporting tools, or what is called SQL for data analytics. Because it is so easy to communicate complex instructions to databases and manipulate data in seconds, SQL makes intuitive dashboards that can display data in a variety of ways. Moreover, SQL is an excellent tool to build data warehouses thanks to easy accessibility, clear organization, and ability to interact effectively.
Another way many use SQL data analytics is by integrating them directly into other frameworks, offering additional functionality and communication abilities without having to build entire structures from scratch. Indeed, SQL analytics can be used within languages like Python, Scala, and Hadoop, three of the most popular currently in use for data science along with big data management and manipulation.
The ability to interact directly with databases built in these languages means that SQL can be used as an intermediary between end-users and a more complex data storage system that would be more accessible by experts and data scientists.
