Half term blog post

What this blog post will include

I have been asked to create a blog post answering a few questions on databases and what they mean to me now after being in my apprenticeship for three months. This blog page will cover a range of things such as what databases are in my words and my knowledge as of now, the same for SQL, and hopefuly include some screenshots and pictures.

I will also try and include some things in this blog posts that I have picked up whilst learning HTML such as lists and quotes.

What did I know about databases before my apprenticeship?

After being in this apprenticeship for just over three months now, I can say for certain that my overall view and outlook on what databases are and what they do has completley changed. If I'm honest before this role all I really knew was that a database stores data. I had no knowledge of how they looked, where they were stored, how you extracted data from them, even as far as what they contributed to on a wider scale. I wasn't familair with programmes such as SQL which now is hard to escape lol 😂. Overall before my apprenticeship my database knowledge was slim however I can now say it has definetly grown and I'm glad it has.

What do I know now?

Since starting I am now more familiar with databases. I have been able to see them in SQL and query on them. Before becoming more familiar with databases I had never really give much thought into the fact every bit of data from companies all over is fed into databases every second. Then all this information is pumped into these databases that are then used to query and report on. This is something that since starting this apprenticeship I have now put more thought into which I didn't previously. For example if you see a statistic saying 45% of people who buy something from a shop come in between 12 and 3. All information that has lead to that statistic has come from individual data inputs that have been added to a database.

What is the relationship between the economy, business, and databases?

Like I mentioned briefly in the pervious paragragh, I am learning more and more everyday how much data really does contribute to the economy and how it is used within business, which I find really interesting. I think what helps me see relationships between data within a business is when I am doing a request for someone as I am able to see real data and qeurey on it to return whatever is needed. Seeing the sheer amount of data that the company I work for holds about everything makes me realise that all of this data and the reports that go along side it are required for people within the company to make decisions and point the company in different ways to create further success. In a more summarised way all data collected is required for any business to continue to run and grow. In terms of the economy, data is yet again required to dicdate different decisions. All deciions will in some way or another be backed or based on data.

What is SQL?

SQL (Structured Query Language) is a programming language which is used to query on databases within SQL server. SQL server is an application used to store databases and query on them.

What is it used for and how does it relate to data?

The language SQL is used to write scripts within SQL server to retrieve different datasets from a variety of databases stored within. The relationship SQL has with data is that it can be put together in different ways to return various different outputs of datasets.

How I feel with SQL currently

Since starting I believe I have definetly improved. I think the thing I have found frustrating so far is that it is definetly not something you just pick up in a couple days, it requries time, practice and mistakes. However I have noticed an improvement in the small amount of time I have been learning SQL which then just makes me want to progress further. As of writing this I am now near half way through my christmas present off Mark lol. Which is helping me become more familiar with SQL and being able to use it almost like encyclopedia for SQL so if I get stuck on a function or anything really it is most likley in the book. Another thing is that I have found is when doing requests or helping colleages with SQL related tasks is when I think I benefit the most. Being more hands on with the language and the programme definetly allows me to understand it better.

The SQL book

Overall

I think overall since beginning this apprenticeship I have definetly seen how challenging SQL and other things can be, especially when first starting out in the workplace. However I enjoy being able to learn and take on all these new things and I have been able to recognise progress which makes me look forward to the future of my career. I am really enoying my apprenticeship, all the people are great and it is a nice enviroment to work and be apart of. I will be using this webpage and these blog posts to document my apprenticeship and use it as something to look back on. I do plan on making this website better as I go on aswell.

I am also aware this is my first lengthy blog post and I am very much not a writer so hopefully it makes some sort of sense.

What is next

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