Updated in May 2025.

This course now features Coursera Coach! A smarter way to learn with interactive, real-time conversations that help you test your knowledge, challenge assumptions, and deepen your understanding as you progress through the course. This course offers a deep dive into SQL Server, starting with an introduction to the basics of databases and data types. You'll be guided through setting up SQL Server on various platforms, including Windows, Mac, and Linux, ensuring a smooth start to your learning journey. By exploring SQL Server Management Studio and Azure Data Studio, you’ll gain familiarity with the essential tools for database management. Next, the course covers foundational skills such as creating, manipulating, and removing databases using both graphical tools and SQL scripts. You’ll also delve into key concepts like normalization, foreign keys, and table relationships to ensure your databases are optimized and efficient. Moreover, you’ll learn about CRUD operations, transactions, and SQL query techniques like filtering, aggregation, and joining tables to handle large datasets and complex queries effectively. Finally, the course transitions into more advanced topics, including views, functions, and stored procedures. You’ll also learn how to implement security measures such as user logins and authentication, rounding off your knowledge with crucial skills for real-world database management. By the end, you’ll have a solid foundation in SQL Server and be equipped with the tools to manage databases confidently. This course is designed for database administrators, software developers, and IT professionals looking to enhance their SQL Server skills. Prior knowledge of basic databases is helpful but not required.