Introduction to SQL Window Functions

Project Overview

Welcome to this project-based course Introduction to SQL Window Functions. This is a hands-on project that introduces SQL users to the world of window functions. In this project, you will learn how to explore and query the project-db database extensively. We will start this hands-on project by retrieving the data in the table in the database. By the end of this 2-hour-and-a-half-long project, you will be able to use different window functions to retrieve the desired result from a database. In this project, you will learn how to use SQL window functions like ROW_NUMBER(), LEAD(), LAG(), and FIRST_VALUE() to manipulate data in the project-db database. These window functions will be used together with the OVER() clause to query this database. In this project, we will move systematically by first introducing the functions using a simple example. Then, we will write slightly complex queries using the window functions in real-life applications. Also, for this hands-on project, we will use PostgreSQL as our preferred database management system (DBMS). Therefore, to complete this project, it is required that you have prior experience with using PostgreSQL. Similarly, this project is an intermediate SQL concept; so, a good foundation in writing SQL queries is vital to complete this project. If you are not familiar with writing queries in SQL and want to learn these concepts, start with my previous guided projects titled “Querying Databases using SQL SELECT statement," and “Performing Data Aggregation using SQL Aggregate Functions.” I taught these guided projects using PostgreSQL. So, taking these projects will give the needed requisite to complete this SQL window functions project. However, if you are comfortable writing queries in PostgreSQL, please join me on this wonderful ride! Let’s get our hands dirty!