SQL Interview Questions and Answers

Last updated on Feb 06, 2023
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SQL Interview Questions

SQL, or Structured Query Language, is a language that is used to interact or communicate with a database. This language assists in performing tasks like retrieval, insertion, updating, and deletion of data from databases. This information is commonly asked in SQL interview questions. An ANSI (American National Standards Institute) standard, SQL helps developers execute queries, insert records in tables, update records, create databases, create tables, or delete tables.

No doubt other programming languages such as ASP, PHP, and ColdFusion helped in making the Internet very dynamic, but SQL has revolutionized how users interact with websites in general. Any reputed webpage that allows the user to provide content uses SQL.

Most Frequently Asked SQL Interview Questions

Here in this article, we will be listing frequently asked SQL Interview Questions and Answers with the belief that they will be helpful for you to gain higher marks. Also, to let you know that this article has been written under the guidance of industry professionals and covered all the current competencies.

Q11. Explain Scalar functions in SQL?
Answer

It is a function that takes one or more values but returns a single value. It is based on user input and returns a single value.

  • UCASE()
  • LCASE()
  • MID()
  • LEN()
  • ROUND()
  • NOW()
  • FORMAT()
Q12. Explain Aggregate functions are available there in SQL?
Answer

The aggregate function performs a calculation on a set of values, and it returns a single value as output. It ignores NULL values when it performs calculation except for the COUNT function.

 

SQL provides many aggregate functions that are listed below.

  • AVG()
  • COUNT()
  • SUM()
  • MIN()
  • MAX() etc
Q13. How to make a copy values from one column to another in SQL?
Answer

UPDATE `table_name` SET new_field=old_field

Q14. What are the advantages of SQL? Explain
Answer

There are many advantages of SQL, and some of them are mentioned below:

  • No coding needed: It is easy to manage without any need to write the substantial amount of code
  • Well defined standards: Long established are used by the SQL databases that are being used by ISO and ANSI.
  • Portability: We can use this program in PCs, servers, laptops and mobile phones.
  • Interactive Language
  • Multiple data views
Q15. Who introduced SQL?
Answer

It was initially developed in the early 1970s at IBM by Donald D. Chamberlin and Raymond F. Boyce.

Q16. What is a Database? Explain
Answer

It is a collection of data that is organized to be easily accessed, managed and updated. It is distributed into rows, columns, and tables. It's indexed to make it easier to find related information.

Q17. Explain table and field in SQL?
Answer

Table: It is a collection of related data that consists of rows and columns. It has a specified number of columns but can have any number of rows.

Field: It is a column in a table that is designed to maintain specific information about all records in the table.

Q18. Explain Unique key in SQL.
Answer

It is a set of one or more than one fields or columns of a table that uniquely identify a record in the table. It is little like a primary key, but it can accept only one null value.

Q19. Explain Foreign key in SQL?
Answer

It is a collection of fields in one table that uniquely identifies a row of another table. In simple words, the foreign key is defined in a second table, but it refers to the primary key/unique key in the first table.

Q20. Write a query to display the current date in SQL?
Answer

SELECT CURDATE();

Reviewed and verified by Baliram Prasad
Baliram Prasad

Baliram Prasad is a Technical Lead in Coldfusion. I am working closely with B2C and B2B Clients. I am having 13+ years of experience. I love programming and most of my time goes in learning the best w...