Here is a list of 50 interview SQL questions, including both technical and non-technical questions,
along with their answers
Technical Questions:
1. What is SQL?
- Answer: SQL (Structured Query Language) is a standard programming language specifically
designed for managing and manipulating relational databases.
2. What are the different types of SQL statements?
- Answer: SQL statements can be classified into DDL (Data Definition Language), DML (Data
Manipulation Language), DCL (Data Control Language), and TCL (Transaction Control Language).
3. What is a primary key?
- Answer: A primary key is a field (or combination of fields) in a table that uniquely identifies each
row/record in that table.
4. What is a foreign key?
- Answer: A foreign key is a field (or collection of fields) in one table that uniquely identifies a row of
another table or the same table. It establishes a link between the data in two tables.
5. What is a join? Explain different types of joins.
- Answer: A join is an SQL operation for combining records from two or more tables. Types of joins
include INNER JOIN, LEFT JOIN (or LEFT OUTER JOIN), RIGHT JOIN (or RIGHT OUTER JOIN), and FULL
JOIN (or FULL OUTER JOIN).
6. What is normalization?
- Answer: Normalization is the process of organizing data to reduce redundancy and improve data
integrity. This typically involves dividing a database into two or more tables and defining relationships
between them.
7. What is denormalization?
- Answer: Denormalization is the process of combining normalized tables into fewer tables to
improve database read performance, sometimes at the expense of write performance and data
integrity.
8. What is a stored procedure?
- Answer: A stored procedure is a prepared SQL code that you can save and reuse. So, if you have an
SQL query that you write frequently, you can save it as a stored procedure and then call it to execute
it.
9. What is an index?
- Answer: An index is a database object that improves the speed of data retrieval operations on a
table at the cost of additional storage and maintenance overhead.
10. What is a view in SQL?
- Answer: A view is a virtual table based on the result set of an SQL query. It contains rows and
columns, just like a real table, but does not physically store the data.
11. What is a subquery?
- Answer: A subquery is an SQL query nested inside a larger query. It is used to return data that will
be used in the main query as a condition to further restrict the data to be retrieved.
12. What are aggregate functions in SQL?
- Answer: Aggregate functions perform a calculation on a set of values and return a single value.
Examples include COUNT, SUM, AVG (average), MIN (minimum), and MAX (maximum).
13. What is the difference between DELETE and TRUNCATE?
- Answer: DELETE removes rows one at a time and logs each delete, while TRUNCATE removes all
rows in a table without logging individual row deletions. TRUNCATE is faster but cannot be rolled
back.
14. What is a UNION in SQL?
- Answer: UNION is an operator used to combine the result sets of two or more SELECT statements.
It removes duplicate rows between the various SELECT statements.
15. What is a cursor in SQL?
- Answer: A cursor is a database object used to retrieve, manipulate, and navigate through a result
set one row at a time.
16. What is a trigger in SQL?
- Answer: A trigger is a set of SQL statements that automatically execute or "trigger" when certain
events occur in a database, such as INSERT, UPDATE, or DELETE.
17. What is the difference between clustered and non-clustered indexes?
- Answer: A clustered index determines the physical order of data in a table and can only be one per
table. A non-clustered index, on the other hand, creates a logical order and can be many per table.
18. Explain the term ACID properties.
- Answer: ACID stands for uh Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, and Durability. These are the key
properties that ensure reliable processing of database transactions.
19. What is the difference between CHAR and VARCHAR?
- Answer: CHAR is a fixed-length data type, while VARCHAR is a variable-length data type. CHAR will
pad extra spaces for unused capacity, while VARCHAR will only use the necessary space.
20. What is a schema in SQL?
- Answer: A schema is a collection of database objects, including tables, views, indexes, and stored
procedures. It provides a way to logically group these objects.
21. What is the difference between SQL and PL/SQL?
- Answer: SQL is a standard language for accessing and manipulating databases, while PL/SQL
(Procedural Language/SQL) is an extension of SQL used in Oracle databases that includes procedural
programming constructs.
22. What is a composite key?
- Answer: A composite key is a primary key composed of two or more columns, used to identify a
row uniquely.
23. What is a self-join?
- Answer: A self-join is a join in which a table is joined with itself, typically to compare rows within
the same table.
24. What is a data warehouse?
- Answer: A data warehouse is a centralized repository of integrated data from one or more
disparate sources, used for reporting and data analysis.
25. What is an OLAP cube?
- Answer: An OLAP (Online Analytical Processing) cube is a multi-dimensional array of data, used to
perform complex queries and analysis on large datasets.
26. What is the difference between RANK() and DENSE_RANK()?
- Answer: Both functions assign ranks to rows within a partition of a result set. RANK() leaves gaps
in the ranking sequence after duplicate values, while DENSE_RANK() does not.
27. What is the SQL CASE statement?
- Answer: The CASE statement is a conditional expression, similar to if-then-else statements in
programming, which evaluates a list of conditions and returns one of multiple possible result
expressions.
28. What is a recursive query?
- Answer: A recursive query is a query that refers to itself. It is commonly used to deal with
hierarchical or tree-structured data.
29. What is a transaction in SQL?
- Answer: A transaction is a sequence of one or more SQL operations treated as a single logical unit
of work. It ensures data integrity by adhering to ACID properties.
30. What is a correlated subquery?
- Answer: A correlated subquery is a subquery that uses values from the outer query. It is evaluated
once for each row processed by the outer query.
Non-Technical Questions:
31. Why do you want to work with SQL databases?
- Answer: I enjoy working with SQL databases because they provide a robust way to manage and
manipulate large datasets efficiently. The ability to write complex queries and optimize database
performance is both challenging and rewarding.
32. Describe a challenging SQL project you have worked on.
- Answer: In a recent project, I was tasked with migrating a legacy database to a new system. This
involved designing a new schema, ensuring data integrity during the migration, and optimizing the
new database for performance. The project required extensive use of SQL and problem-solving skills.
33. How do you stay updated with the latest developments in SQL and database management?
- Answer: I stay updated by reading industry blogs, participating in online forums, attending
webinars and conferences, and taking online courses on platforms like Coursera and Udemy.
34. Can you describe a time when you optimized a slow-running query?
- Answer: I once optimized a slow-running query by analyzing its execution plan and identifying
performance bottlenecks. I added appropriate indexes, rewrote the query to reduce the number of
joins, and used temporary tables to store intermediate results, which significantly improved the
query's performance.
35. How do you handle data integrity in your SQL projects?
- Answer: I ensure data integrity by using primary and foreign keys, constraints, triggers, and
carefully designed transactions. Additionally, I implement regular data validation and consistency
checks.
36. What is your experience with SQL performance tuning?
- Answer: I have experience with SQL performance tuning, including indexing strategies, query
optimization, analyzing execution plans, and using tools like SQL Profiler to monitor and improve
database performance.
37. Can you explain a situation where you had to resolve a database-related issue?
- Answer: In one instance, a critical report was running slowly due to inefficient queries. I diagnosed
the issue by reviewing the SQL code, identified unnecessary full table scans, and optimized the
queries by adding indexes and rewriting subqueries. This reduced the report generation time
significantly.
38. How do you approach learning a new database technology or tool?
- Answer: I approach learning a new database technology by first understanding its fundamentals
through documentation and tutorials. I then practice by working on small projects, and seek out
community resources like forums and online courses for advanced learning and troubleshooting.
39. Describe your experience with data migration projects.
- Answer: I have worked on several data migration projects, which involved transferring data
between different databases and systems. This required careful planning, data mapping, writing
migration scripts, and thorough testing to ensure data integrity and minimal downtime
40. How do you ensure data security in your SQL databases?
- Answer: I ensure data security by implementing strong authentication and authorization
measures, using encryption for sensitive data, regularly updating and patching database systems, and
performing regular security audits and vulnerability assessments.
41. Describe a time when you had to work with a difficult team member on a database project.
- Answer: In one project, a team member was resistant to following standard coding practices. I
addressed this by initiating open discussions about the benefits of these practices, demonstrating
their impact on project success, and fostering a collaborative environment where everyone could
contribute their ideas.
42. How do you handle conflicting priorities when managing multiple database projects?
- Answer: I handle conflicting priorities by maintaining a clear and organized project management
system, communicating effectively with stakeholders to understand their needs, and prioritizing tasks
based on urgency and impact. I also allocate time for regular progress reviews and adjustments.
43. Can you describe a successful project where you used your SQL skills?
- Answer: In a recent project, I developed a data warehouse for a retail company, integrating data
from various sources. I used SQL to design the schema, write ETL processes, and create complex
queries for generating business reports. The project improved decision-making by providing timely
and accurate insights.
44. What are your strengths when it comes to SQL database management?
- Answer: My strengths include a strong understanding of database design and normalization,
proficiency in writing and optimizing complex SQL queries, experience with performance tuning, and a
keen attention to detail that ensures data integrity and security.
45. How do you handle missing or incomplete data in your SQL queries?
- Answer: I handle missing or incomplete data by using SQL functions like COALESCE or ISNULL to
provide default values, writing conditional queries to handle different data scenarios, and performing
data validation and cleaning during the ETL process.
46. What tools and technologies do you use for SQL development and database management?
- Answer: I use tools like SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS), MySQL Workbench, pgAdmin,
Oracle SQL Developer, and various IDEs for SQL development. For database management, I use tools
like DB2, PostgreSQL, and NoSQL databases like MongoDB.
47. How do you ensure your SQL code is maintainable and readable?
- Answer: I ensure maintainability and readability by following best practices such as consistent
naming conventions, commenting code appropriately, writing modular and reusable code, and using
formatting and indentation to enhance clarity.
48. What strategies do you use to test and validate your SQL queries?
- Answer: I test and validate SQL queries by creating test cases with expected results, using sample
data sets to verify query accuracy, performing peer reviews, and using tools like SQL Fiddle or
database-specific testing frameworks to automate and streamline the testing process.
49. Describe your experience with database backups and recovery.
- Answer: I have experience in setting up and managing regular database backups using native tools
and scripts, implementing disaster recovery plans, and performing recovery operations during data
loss or corruption scenarios to ensure minimal downtime and data loss.
50. How do you document your SQL database projects?
- Answer: I document SQL database projects by creating comprehensive design documents,
detailing schema diagrams, writing clear and concise comments within SQL code, maintaining version
control, and providing user manuals and technical documentation for future reference.
Happy learning 😊
