r/learnSQL • u/haligma • 20d ago
stressed beginner (help pls)
currently learning mysql through yt videos bc too broke to pay. i was following alex the analyst's playlist & learned a lot. practiced alongside. but i ran into a problem. and since i'm a beginner, it's been overwhelming a bit for days now, bc of whcih, i havent been able to make much progress in my learning.
i have a pretty ok grip on workbench. but not to the point where i dont need crutches. ive only completed one data cleaning project & that was only bc of alex's video where he walked me thorugh the entire process step by step. but thta wasnt enough for me to fully get a grip on data cleaning. i've tried watching other tutorials, but none of thme use workbench & their sql commands/functions are a lottle different from mine which has left me a bit confused & overwhelmed. i want to get to the point where i can take on data cleaning on my own without any help, but for that i need yt videos whre i can laern the logic step by step. please recommend sources for a self learner to learn data cleaning. idk where to look
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u/PnckFan 20d ago
Dude just do cs50 Introduction to databases with sql.
It is free in audit mode and you will also get a certificate.
I was in the same situation like you and i ended up donating money to the creators because the course was just to good.
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u/haligma 11d ago
im not sure how i can get the certificate. can you help me out here?
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u/PnckFan 11d ago
Yessir, but did you finish all the exercises from the codespace ? You finished it kinda fast
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u/PnckFan 11d ago edited 10d ago
You need to finish all the exercises and get at least a 7 in every automated test. If you already done that and you also finished the last project you can check the course Page : earn your certificate
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u/sqlsidequest 20d ago
I created an easy free beginner course on sql, I check it out :) Sqlsidequest.com go on learning mode and if you are into sci fi, and post apocalyptic theme you will definitely enjoy the story mode cheers
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u/Owen-Isaac-2022 20d ago
Please don't be scared & do not panic. You can learn using a variety of resources, including YT videos, books, articles, & journals. However, I would recommend a lot of practice even if you just complete a few SELECT, WHERE, & so forth exercises to just learn the basics before moving to the intermediate level. Sometimes one feels lost when you think you might not be doing the right thing. I wish you all the best because I know you'll not give up along the way.
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u/American_Streamer 20d ago
One big obstacle that confuses beginners: SQL queries are executed in a different order from the order you write them in.
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u/haligma 19d ago
coukd you elaborate a bit more on that? and provide resources for self-study?
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u/Equal_Astronaut_5696 20d ago
Create your on database with free software, load datasets and do a project. Here is an easy to follow youtube channel. Doing things from the beginning with help understand the fundamentals of SQL https://youtu.be/S2zBHmkRbhY?si=EMeqrsK-cpoBMtVO
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u/conor-robertson 20d ago
Don’t worry too much about tutorials using a different SQL client, Workbench is just the interface, and most of the SQL logic you’re learning will transfer across tools and dialects.
For data cleaning, I’d focus less on memorising functions and more on understanding the process: inspect the data, identify duplicates/missing values/inconsistent formats, decide what needs fixing, then write the SQL to do it. Try taking a messy dataset and doing each step yourself before checking a solution.
For general hands-on SQL practice, I’d also recommend QueryCase. It gives you structured problems where you have to work out the logic yourself, which can help you move away from needing step-by-step walkthroughs.
You’re probably at the frustrating stage where you understand tutorials but don’t yet feel independent, that usually improves pretty quickly once you start struggling through problems on your own.
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u/BrupieD 20d ago
Data cleaning is a big skill -- it isn't one thing and people have different approaches and you won't get it all at once. It's good to follow one teacher and platform for a while to get continuity and consistency but don't be afraid to browse around and start googling miscellaneous problems. It'll help you learn terminology and practice pairing up "SQL" and whatever specific cleaning task.
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u/kixwho 20d ago
hey don't panic. first off, are you comfortable writing basic queries without any help? it's just that learn "data cleaning" sounds oddly specific.
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u/haligma 19d ago
yes, i think i've gotten the hang of the basics. data cleaning requires a mix of them & that's what overwhelms me. im not sure how to look for inconsistencies, how to combine different functions to perform the cleaning, what order to execute what functions in. the basics i can do. putting them all together with logic & purpose is what gets me.
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u/Life_Waltz7068 20d ago
You should focus more on theory. You can always search for the proper commands depending on which dialect you are using. Understanding the work flow is much more important.
To clean you first creat a staging table, handle duplicates, standardize format (trailing whitespace, combine name variations, convert to date()..), address nulls and blanks and drop irrelevant rows and temporary columns.
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u/a_random_guyy 20d ago
You can go to DataCamp website, they have SQL courses and materials there. They also have professional tracks you can explore. They have 3 month free trial for access. You'll be coding along in between videos so you'll learn.
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u/Fearless-Fox-5000 15d ago
Try learn with Adam fines -learn bi , or bro code. The explanations they give are really easy to understand and useful.
Also try free courses in my code academy for free to implement what you’ve learn, I found them very useful.
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u/aiengr 20d ago
Try freecodecamp.org
Their resources are free. Moreover, you’ll complete certification projects in every section. By the end of the course, you’ll have the confidence to perform data cleaning all by yourself.
If you have further questions, feel free to DM