U-SQL

U-SQL, often pronounced “you-sequel,” is a programming language used for querying and operating on data. Developed by Microsoft, U-SQL is best suited for handling massive datasets beyond the size of what traditional relational databases can handle.

What is U-SQL?

Microsoft describes U-SQL as an advanced query language that is designed for big data. To glean insights in the era of big data, companies need ways to efficiently query massive datasets stored in a distributed fashion across multiple servers. U-SQL, an extension of SQL, provides that capability but also adds the ability to manage these massive datasets stored in Azure Data Lake Storage.

Why Learn U-SQL?

Big data is all around us and with the rise of IoT, streaming data, and social media, the amount of data companies have to analyze is going to continue to grow. The right approach to big data strategy can lead to positive business outcomes. U-SQL allows data scientists, data engineers, and developers to organize and analyze big data in order to improve data-driven decision making throughout the enterprise. By learning U-SQL, you have the ability to use that foundational SQL knowledge to unlock the insights hidden in big data.

How Online Courses Can Help

With many resources to choose from, online courses can provide an overview of U-SQL, but also provide more hands-on tutorials and exercises to help you ingrain the concepts. For example, some of the resources listed explore using U-SQL with Microsoft Azure Data Lake, which can sometimes be an important use case for those seeking to learn the language.

Careers That Use U-SQL

U-SQL is one of several tools data scientists, engineers, and developers can use to query and manipulate big data. Companies of all sizes use big data analytics to make informed decisions and stay competitive, so there are many career paths that leverage U-SQL.

Benefits