{"id":109192,"date":"2026-03-16T10:29:09","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T10:29:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.red-gate.com\/simple-talk\/?post_type=collection&p=109192"},"modified":"2026-03-16T10:29:11","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T10:29:11","slug":"how-to-learn-mysql-as-a-beginner","status":"publish","type":"collection","link":"https:\/\/www.red-gate.com\/simple-talk\/collections\/how-to-learn-mysql-as-a-beginner\/","title":{"rendered":"How to learn MySQL as a beginner"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Robert Sheldon’s extensive series on how to learn MySQL as a beginner. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMySQL<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Simple-Talk\n\t\t\t<\/a> <\/div>\n
\n \n
\n \n \n \"Image\n Robert Sheldon<\/span>\n <\/a>\n\n \n in<\/span>\n \n MySQL <\/a>\n <\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n

\n MySQL Joins Explained: INNER, LEFT, RIGHT, FULL OUTER, and CROSS JOIN <\/h1>\n

\n A complete guide to MySQL joins: INNER JOIN for matching rows, LEFT and RIGHT OUTER JOINs for non-matching rows, FULL… <\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMySQL<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Simple-Talk\n\t\t\t<\/a> <\/div>\n
\n \n
\n \n \n \"Image\n Robert Sheldon<\/span>\n <\/a>\n\n \n in<\/span>\n \n MySQL <\/a>\n <\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n

\n MySQL Constraints Guide: PRIMARY KEY, FOREIGN KEY, NOT NULL, DEFAULT, and CHECK Constraints with Examples <\/h1>\n

\n Complete guide to MySQL constraints – PRIMARY KEY for unique row identification, FOREIGN KEY for referential integrity, NOT NULL for… <\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMySQL<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Simple-Talk\n\t\t\t<\/a> <\/div>\n
\n \n
\n \n \n \"Image\n Robert Sheldon<\/span>\n <\/a>\n\n \n in<\/span>\n \n MySQL <\/a>\n <\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n

\n MySQL SELECT INTO OUTFILE: Export Data to CSV\/Text <\/h1>\n

\n Complete guide to MySQL SELECT INTO OUTFILE for exporting query results to CSV, TSV, and text files. Covers syntax, FIELDS… <\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n \n\t\t\t\"Simple-Talk\n\t\t\t<\/a> <\/div>\n
\n \n
\n \n \n \"Image\n Robert Sheldon<\/span>\n <\/a>\n\n \n <\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n

\n MySQL Transactions: BEGIN, COMMIT, ROLLBACK, Autocommit, and Exception Handling in Stored Programs <\/h1>\n

\n A practical guide to MySQL transactions – BEGIN, COMMIT, and ROLLBACK; autocommit behaviour and when to turn it off; wrapping… <\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMySQL<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Simple-Talk\n\t\t\t<\/a> <\/div>\n
\n \n
\n \n \n \"Image\n Robert Sheldon<\/span>\n <\/a>\n\n \n in<\/span>\n \n MySQL <\/a>\n <\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n

\n Importing data into a MySQL database using LOAD DATA <\/h1>\n

\n Database and development teams often load data from plain text files into their MySQL databases. The files might be used… <\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMySQL<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Simple-Talk\n\t\t\t<\/a> <\/div>\n
\n \n
\n \n \n \"Image\n Robert Sheldon<\/span>\n <\/a>\n\n \n in<\/span>\n \n MySQL <\/a>\n <\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n

\n Modifying MySQL data from within Python <\/h1>\n

\n In the previous article in this series, I introduced you to how to access MySQL data from within a Python… <\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMySQL<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Simple-Talk\n\t\t\t<\/a> <\/div>\n
\n \n
\n \n \n \"Image\n Robert Sheldon<\/span>\n <\/a>\n\n \n in<\/span>\n \n MySQL <\/a>\n <\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n

\n Python MySQL: How to Query & Retrieve Data <\/h1>\n

\n Learn how to connect to MySQL from Python and retrieve data using MySQL Connector. Covers connections, cursors, fetchall\/fetchone, parameterized queries,… <\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMySQL<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Simple-Talk\n\t\t\t<\/a> <\/div>\n
\n \n
\n \n \n \"Image\n Robert Sheldon<\/span>\n <\/a>\n\n \n in<\/span>\n \n MySQL <\/a>\n <\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n

\n MySQL Common Table Expressions (CTEs): WITH Clause, Recursive Queries <\/h1>\n

\n Use MySQL common table expressions (CTEs) to simplify complex queries with the WITH clause. Covers basic CTEs, multiple CTEs in… <\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMySQL<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Simple-Talk\n\t\t\t<\/a> <\/div>\n
\n \n
\n \n \n \"Image\n Robert Sheldon<\/span>\n <\/a>\n\n \n in<\/span>\n \n MySQL <\/a>\n <\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n

\n MySQL Subqueries: Scalar, Correlated, Row, Column, and Derived Tables <\/h1>\n

\n Complete MySQL subquery guide: scalar subqueries for single values, correlated subqueries that reference the outer query, row and column subqueries,… <\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMySQL<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Simple-Talk\n\t\t\t<\/a> <\/div>\n
\n \n
\n \n \n \"Image\n Robert Sheldon<\/span>\n <\/a>\n\n \n in<\/span>\n \n MySQL <\/a>\n <\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n

\n Introducing the MySQL DELETE statement <\/h1>\n

\n In the last few articles in this series, you learned about three important data manipulation language (DML) statements: SELECT, INSERT,… <\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMySQL<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Simple-Talk\n\t\t\t<\/a> <\/div>\n
\n \n
\n \n \n \"Image\n Robert Sheldon<\/span>\n <\/a>\n\n \n in<\/span>\n \n MySQL <\/a>\n <\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n

\n Introducing the MySQL UPDATE statement <\/h1>\n

\n In the previous two articles in this series, you learned about SELECT and INSERT, two important data manipulation language (DML)… <\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMySQL<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Simple-Talk\n\t\t\t<\/a> <\/div>\n
\n \n
\n \n \n \"Image\n Robert Sheldon<\/span>\n <\/a>\n\n \n in<\/span>\n \n MySQL <\/a>\n <\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n

\n Introducing the MySQL INSERT statement <\/h1>\n

\n In the previous article in this series, I introduced you to the SELECT statement, one of several SQL statements that… <\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMySQL<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Simple-Talk\n\t\t\t<\/a> <\/div>\n
\n \n
\n \n \n \"Image\n Robert Sheldon<\/span>\n <\/a>\n\n \n in<\/span>\n \n MySQL <\/a>\n <\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n

\n Introducing the MySQL SELECT statement <\/h1>\n

\n Use SELECT statements to query a MySQL database. In this article, Robert Sheldon explains how. … <\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMySQL<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Simple-Talk\n\t\t\t<\/a> <\/div>\n
\n \n
\n \n \n \"Image\n Robert Sheldon<\/span>\n <\/a>\n\n \n in<\/span>\n \n MySQL <\/a>\n <\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n

\n Working with MySQL stored functions <\/h1>\n

\n Stored functions in MySQL return a scalar value and can be used in a SQL statement. In this article, Robert… <\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMySQL<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Simple-Talk\n\t\t\t<\/a> <\/div>\n
\n \n
\n \n \n \"Image\n Robert Sheldon<\/span>\n <\/a>\n\n \n in<\/span>\n \n MySQL <\/a>\n <\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n

\n Working with MySQL Stored Procedures <\/h1>\n

\n MySQL stored procedures are objects containing one or more SQL statements for reuse. They often contain business logic. Robert Sheldon… <\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMySQL<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Simple-Talk\n\t\t\t<\/a> <\/div>\n
\n \n
\n \n \n \"Image\n Robert Sheldon<\/span>\n <\/a>\n\n \n in<\/span>\n \n MySQL <\/a>\n <\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n

\n Working with MySQL Views <\/h1>\n

\n Views in MySQL allow you to save a predefined SQL query. Robert Sheldon explains the benefits of views and how… <\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMySQL<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Simple-Talk\n\t\t\t<\/a> <\/div>\n
\n \n
\n \n \n \"Image\n Robert Sheldon<\/span>\n <\/a>\n\n \n in<\/span>\n \n MySQL <\/a>\n <\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n

\n Working with MySQL tables <\/h1>\n

\n After getting a new database in place, the next step is to create tables. In this article, Robert Sheldon walks… <\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMySQL<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"Simple-Talk\n\t\t\t<\/a> <\/div>\n
\n \n
\n \n \n \"Image\n Robert Sheldon<\/span>\n <\/a>\n\n \n in<\/span>\n \n MySQL <\/a>\n <\/span>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n

\n Getting started with MySQL <\/h1>\n

\n The first step when getting started with MySQL is to get it installed and running. In this article, Robert Sheldon… <\/p>\n <\/div>\n

\n