How do I retrieve unique values from a column in MySQL?

Use DISTINCT, for example: SELECT DISTINCT state FROM customers;

What is the difference between a LEFT OUTER JOIN and an INNER JOIN in MySQL?

An INNER JOIN returns matching rows only; a LEFT OUTER JOIN also includes all rows from the left table.

How do I add a new column to an existing MySQL table?

Use ALTER TABLE, for example: ALTER TABLE customers ADD COLUMN phone VARCHAR(20);

Free online course MySQL database

Duration of the online course: 3 hours and 40 minutes

4.71

(133)

Build real MySQL skills fast with this free online course: write SQL queries, filter and join tables, and practice for a certificate-ready portfolio.

In this free course, learn about

Database fundamentals and the role of primary keys in tables
Installing/setting up a MySQL server and what you need to start practicing
Creating databases and tables (CREATE DATABASE/CREATE TABLE) basics
Using SHOW and SELECT to explore schemas and retrieve data/columns
SQL statement rules; running multiple queries; fully qualified names
Filtering with WHERE, AND/OR, parentheses, and IN/NOT IN
Sorting results with ORDER BY and controlling sort direction
Finding unique values and limiting rows with DISTINCT and LIMIT
Pattern matching with LIKE wildcards (% and _) and regular expressions (|)
Creating custom/computed columns and using functions like CONCAT
Aggregate functions (SUM, COUNT, etc.) and grouping results with GROUP BY
Subqueries: what they are and how to use them to answer nested questions
Joining tables (INNER/LEFT OUTER JOIN), UNION, and full-text search advantages
Data changes and schema changes: INSERT, multi-row insert, UPDATE/DELETE, ALTER/DROP/RENAME, views

About the free online course

Knowing how to work with databases is a core skill in technology, whether you aim to become a developer, analyst, QA, or build your own product. This free online course helps you move from curiosity to confidence with MySQL, one of the most widely used relational database systems in the world. You will learn how databases are organized, why keys matter for data integrity, and how to set up a MySQL server so you can practice with a real environment from the start.

As you progress, you will gain the practical SQL abilities that employers and real projects rely on. You will learn how to explore a database, retrieve the information you need with SELECT, and apply rules that keep your statements clear and correct. From there, you will sharpen your query results by choosing the right columns, removing duplicates, limiting output, and sorting data to reveal patterns that are otherwise hidden.

The course also focuses on how to ask better questions of your data. You will practice filtering with WHERE, combining conditions with AND and OR, and using grouping logic that prevents mistakes. Searching becomes more powerful as you work with wildcards, pattern matching, and regular expressions to handle real-world text data. You will also learn to create custom outputs using expressions and functions, including aggregate functions that help summarize large datasets into meaningful insights.

To go beyond single tables, you will understand how to connect information properly using joins, including outer joins for scenarios where some records may not match. You will work with subqueries to solve questions step by step, and combine results using UNION when appropriate. You will also learn efficient approaches for searching text with full-text search features, a valuable skill for building search-driven applications.

Finally, you will strengthen your foundation in data manipulation and structure by practicing inserting, updating, and deleting records safely. You will understand how tables are created and modified with constraints such as NOT NULL and AUTO INCREMENT, and how to maintain a database over time using operations like alter, drop, and rename. The result is a solid MySQL toolkit you can apply immediately in projects, interviews, and everyday work with data.

Course content

Video class: MySQL Database Tutorial - 1 - Introduction to Databases 07m
Exercise: What is the primary key's function in a database table?
Video class: MySQL Database Tutorial - 2 - Getting a MySQL Server 04m
Exercise: What is essential to start practicing MySQL?
Video class: MySQL Database Tutorial - 3 - Creating a Database 09m
Exercise: What is the initial step in creating a MySQL database?

Video class: MySQL Database Tutorial - 4 - SHOW and SELECT 06m
Exercise: How do you retrieve all table names from a selected database in MySQL?
Video class: MySQL Database Tutorial - 5 - Basic Rules for SQL Statements 04m
Exercise: If you want to run multiple MySQL queries:
Video class: MySQL Database Tutorial - 6 - Getting Multiple Columns 05m
Exercise: What is the correct way to retrieve multiple columns in a MySQL select statement?

Video class: MySQL Database Tutorial - 7 - DISTINCT and LIMIT 05m
Exercise: How to retrieve unique states from a customer database?
Video class: MySQL Database Tutorial - 8 - Sorting Results 06m
Exercise: What is a fully qualified name in SQL?
Video class: MySQL Database Tutorial - 9 - Sort Direction 04m
Exercise: How can you sort data in reverse order by zip code?
Video class: MySQL Database Tutorial - 10 - Basic Data Filtering and WHERE 04m
Exercise: What is the purpose of the WHERE clause in SQL?

Video class: MySQL Database Tutorial - 11 - Advanced Filtering Using AND and OR 06m
Exercise: What is the purpose of using parentheses in MySQL queries with AND and OR keywords?
Video class: MySQL Database Tutorial - 12 - Are you IN or are you NOT IN? 06m
Exercise: How can you simplify a SQL query to filter specific states?
Video class: MySQL Database Tutorial - 13 - How Search Engines Work 06m
Exercise: What does the percent sign stand for?
Video class: MySQL Database Tutorial - 14 - More on Wildcards 03m
Exercise: What is the function of the underscore wildcard in MySQL queries?
Video class: MySQL Database Tutorial - 15 - Regular Expressions 07m
Exercise: What does the pipe symbol (|) represent in MySQL regular expressions?

Video class: MySQL Database Tutorial - 16 - Creating Custom Columns 08m
Exercise: What function is used in MySQL to create a custom column with combined city and state names?
Video class: MySQL Database Tutorial - 17 - Functions 06m
Exercise: What is the purpose of the 'SUM' function in databases?
Video class: MySQL Database Tutorial - 18 - More on Aggregate Functions 07m
Exercise: What function returns the number of rows in a column?
Video class: MySQL Database Tutorial - 19 - GROUP BY 07m
Exercise: What SQL keyword can be used to aggregate data and group results?

Video class: MySQL Database Tutorial - 20 - Subqueries 06m
Exercise: What is a Subquery in MySQL?
Video class: MySQL Database Tutorial - 21 - Another Subquery Example 07m
Exercise: How to determine the seller with the cheapest frogs using subqueries in MySQL?
Video class: MySQL Database Tutorial - 22 - How to Join Tables 08m
Exercise: What is a key advantage of joining tables in MySQL?
Video class: MySQL Database Tutorial - 23 - Outer Joins 08m
Exercise: What is the purpose of a LEFT OUTER JOIN in SQL?
Video class: MySQL Database Tutorial - 24 - UNION 05m
Exercise: What is the purpose of using UNION in SQL queries?

Video class: MySQL Database Tutorial - 25 - Full-Text Searching 07m
Exercise: What is the advantage of Full Text Searching in MySQL over using LIKE or regular expressions?

Video class: MySQL Database Tutorial - 26 - INSERT INTO 08m
Exercise: What is an advantage of explicitly specifying column names when inserting data into a MySQL table?
Video class: MySQL Database Tutorial - 27 - How to Insert Multiple Rows 08m
Exercise: What is the default value for numerical data types when inserting data into a MySQL table if no explicit value is given?
Video class: MySQL Database Tutorial - 28 - UPDATE & DELETE 07m
Exercise: What is the proper query to delete a row with the id 230 from a table named clients?
Video class: MySQL Database Tutorial - 29 - CREATE TABLE 07m
Exercise: What is the first step in creating a table using SQL?
Video class: MySQL Database Tutorial - 30 - NOT NULL & AUTO INCREMENT 07m
Exercise: What does the 'NOT NULL' constraint in SQL mean?
Video class: MySQL Database Tutorial - 31 - ALTER / DROP / RENAME TABLE 06m
Exercise: How can you add a column to an existing MySQL table?

Video class: MySQL Database Tutorial - 32 - Views 08m
Exercise: What is a key characteristic of a database view?
Video class: MySQL Database Tutorial - 33 - Final Video! 03m
Exercise: What option below is good practice when using MySQL?

Learn aboutMySQL

Explore free online MySQL courses with certificates and learn essential database skills at your own pace. Master SQL queries, database design, data management, joins, indexing, and optimization through beginner-friendly and advanced lessons. Enroll today to build practical MySQL expertise, strengthen your resume, and advance your career in data or web development.

This free course includes:

3 hours and 40 minutes of online video course

Digital certificate of course completion (Free)

Exercises to train your knowledge

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Course comments: MySQL database

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