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Common SQL
Mistakes to
Avoid for Data
Analysts
Enhance your SQL skills by steering clear
of these common pitfalls!
1. Forgetting the
WHERE clause in
UPDATE or DELETE
Missing a WHERE clause can modify
all rows in a table, leading to
unintended consequences.
Always double-check that a WHERE
clause is in place.
EXAMPLE :Use DELETE FROM Orders
WHERE OrderID = 1234 instead of
just DELETE FROM Orders.
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2. Using SELECT *
in Large Tables
SELECT * fetches all columns, which
can slow down queries and overload
memory.
Select only the columns you need for
faster performance.
EXAMPLE : Replace SELECT * FROM
Customers with SELECT
CustomerName, Country FROM
Customers.
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3. Not Handling NULL
Values Properly
NULL values can impact calculations
and join results, causing incorrect
analysis.
Use functions like COALESCE() to
replace NULL values as needed.
EXAMPLE : SELECT COALESCE(Salary,
0) FROM Employees ensures no NULL
salaries are returned.
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4. Misusing GROUP
BY with Aggregates
Aggregated functions like SUM and
COUNT require a GROUP BY clause.
Group by non-aggregated columns to
avoid errors.
EXAMPLE : SELECT Department,
COUNT(EmployeeID) FROM
Employees GROUP BY Department.
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5. Confusing WHERE
and HAVING Clauses
WHERE filters data before aggregation,
while HAVING filters aggregated data.
Use WHERE for row-level filters and
HAVING for group-level filters.
EXAMPLE : SELECT Region, SUM(Sales)
FROM Orders GROUP BY Region
HAVING SUM(Sales) > 5000.
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6. Misunderstanding
JOIN Types
Using the wrong join type can
exclude necessary data (e.g., INNER
JOIN vs. LEFT JOIN).
Ensure the join type aligns with the
data analysis needs.
EXAMPLE : Use LEFT JOIN when you
want to keep all rows from one table.
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7. Neglecting Query
Performance
Optimization
Complex or unoptimized queries can
slow down processing.
Use EXPLAIN to understand and
optimize your query’s execution plan.
EXAMPLE : EXPLAIN SELECT * FROM
Orders WHERE OrderDate > '2023-01-
01' helps identify potential
performance improvements.
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