SQL Server Essentials Vocabulary List

This Vocabulary List combines the vocabulary from your review exercises and combines it with
vocabulary from other SQL resources. In some cases you will see a word repeated. This is to
provide you with a couple definitions in the hope that one will fit your learning style better. You
can choose either definition, or combine them for your own definition.
I would suggest that you look at this list before we start and see if you know any of the definitions.
Put a check by any of them that you already know. Then come back after each week of lessons
and update the list with checkmarks for new words that you know. Keep doing this after every
week until you complete the lessons. See what words are left over at the end and try to finish
up the list.
You dont have to know the exact definition, but you should focus on the concept that each word
represents.
You can do it!

Dashboard
Word

Definition

Aggregate function

A function that operates over a group of numerical values. Examples: avg,

sum, min, max, count.

Alias

An abbreviated name for a database object used to save typing while

writing queries.

Alias

Renaming a column in your output.

ALTER

A DDL statement that changes the design or properties of a database or

database object.

Ascending Order

Sorts your results from A-Z.

Authentication

Determining WHO can talk to the database.

Authentication Mode A security setting on SQL Server that specifies what types of logins are
allowed access to the server.

Authorization

Determining WHAT they can do.

BCP

Bulk Copy Program is a command-line utility for importing or exporting data

from a delimited text file.

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BEGIN and END

BEGIN and END tell sql server that you are going to have multiple lines of
script.

BETWEEN Operator

An operator used in SQL selects a range of data between two values.

Boolean operators

Allow you to filter the rows of a table with multiple conditions. AND, OR,
Not

Cartesian result

All combinations of records from all tables. If table A has five records and
table B has 10 records, the Cartesian result set would be 50 records..

Case-Insensitive

Case doesn't matter when you are writing queries.

Case-Sensitive

Case matters and you have to match your query criteria exactly.

Case-Sensitivity

Whether you need to make sure you match lower case or upper case or
mixed case when you are writing queries and criteria.

Catalog

A database or data storage area.

Catalog View

System information combined by SQL Server into a table-like view which

can be queried with a SELECT statement.

Clause

A type of keyword used for a query. SELECT is both a clause and a keyword..

Client

The client part of a client-server architecture. Typically, a client is an

application that runs on a personal computer or workstation and relies on a
server to perform some operations.

Clustered Index

Where the index is stored with the table.

CMD

A windows program that allows you to run commands from the command
line.

Column

A field in a database table.

Column

In the context of relational databases, a column is a set of data values, all of

a single type, in a table. Columns define the data in a table, while rows
populate data into the table

Committed

A change to a record that was loaded from the database into memory was
successfully saved to the data file.

Comparison
Operators

Allow you to filter the rows of a table. Examples: =, !=, IN, Like

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Concatenation

Putting 2 different string values together. The concatenation operator is

the '+' sign.

Control

Permission that allows full control.

Create

A DDL statement that creates an object or database.

Create Procedure

The initial syntax to create a stored procedure.

Cross Join

A type of join that produces a Cartesian result set.

CRUD

An acronym for what you can do to the data in a table. Select, Insert,
Update, and Delete.

CSV File

Comma Separated Values file. This is a type of Flat File Database.

Data Loss

When you run something that deletes data that isn't supposed to be
deleted. This can also happen through another program.

Database (Definition
#1)

A container of data.

Database (Definition
#2)

A collection of objects to store and retrieve data. Is commonly used to talk

about Relational Databases.

Database Context

Refers to which database you are running the current query against.

Database Context

When you are running a query or script, the database context is the
database that the script will talk to. If you are running a query, there is a
drop down list that tells you what database you are in.

Database Definition
#1

A container of data.

Database Definition
#2

A collection of objects to store and retrieve data. Is commonly used to talk

about Relational Databases.

Database
Management System

A set of software components and programs that creates, maintains,

controls access to a database.

Datatype

An attribute of a field that tells SQL Server what kind of data it may accept.
Examples include integers, dates and characters.

Datatype

The limitation of the type of data that can be put into a column. Int,
Varchar, Datatime, etc.

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DBO

Database Owner schema. This is the traditional default database schema

that everyone used.

DCL

Data Control Language. A statement that affects the permissions a principal

has to a securable.

DCL

Data Control Language Allows you to secure objects in the database. Grant, Revoke

DCL

Data Control Language - Allows for securing the database.

DDL

Data Definition Language.

DDL

Data Definition Language - Allows you to create objects in the database. Create, Alter, Drop, Truncate

DDL Statement

A statement that creates, alters or drops databases or database objects.

Define CSV File

Comma Separated Values file. This is a type of Flat File Database.

Define Flat File

Database

A database with only one table. A text file, CSV file or simple list is a flat file
database.

Define TABDELIMITED TEXT FILE

A text file where each field is separate by a tab character.

Delete

Removes records from a table, but does not remove the table from the
database.

Delimiter

A character which separates one object or entity from another.

Deny

A DCL statement that forbids a permission to a securable.

Descending Order

Sorts your results from Z-A.

Dirty Record

A change to a record that has been loaded from the database into memory
and has changed, but has not yet been saved back to the data file.

DML

Data Manipulation language.

DML

Data Manipulation Language - Allows you to add, delete, and change data in
a table. - Insert, Update, Select

DNS

Domain Name Server

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Domain Name Server

Domain name server, the system that automatically translates Internet

addresses to the numeric machine addresses that computers use

Drop

A DDL statement that eliminates an object or database.

Execute

The command that is used to run a stored procedure.

Execution Plan

In Management Studio, it shows the path that Sql Server will take when
looking for data in the table.

Explicit transaction

A group of SQL statements treated where all events of the transaction occur
at once or none of them takes place at all.

EXPORT

A process that takes data from a table and saves it as another type of data
storage.

Field

A column in a database table.

Filter

A clause that limits the records in your query results.

Firewall

It closes ports to the entire computer. In the hotel analogy, you may still
have a bathroom, but you can lock the door so that no one can get in. You
can even lock the whole hotel, so that no one can even get into the whole
hotel. This is how the firewall works. It can block all internet traffic, or
simply open individual ports/doors to specific programs/rooms.

Flat File Database

A database with only one table. A text file, CSV file or simple list is a flat file
database.

Foreign Key

A foreign key is a field in a table that matches the primary key column of
another table.

From

A keyword which chooses the table youre querying for the information.

Full Table Scan

When the database goes through every row to see if it can find the data.

Function

Takes a value and transforms it to another value. An example is the

REVERSE function.

getdate()

A built in SQL Server function that will return the system date.

GO Statement

Tell the server to execute everything before the GO as a batch.

Grant

A DCL statement that allows a permission to a securable.

GRANT

The command that allows you to give a permission on an object to a user.

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Greater-Than
operator (>)

Finds all of the values that are bigger than the specified criteria.

Group By

The SQL Clause that allows you to aggregate across a subset of data. An
example would be to sum or average across the different jobs in an
employee table.

Having Clause

Works with the Group By clause and allows you to filter after you group
something.

IMPORT

A process to bring data into a SQL table.

In Operator

An operator used to enumerate a set of exact matches in your query.

Identity Column

A column that is made up of values generated by the database.

Index

A sorted storage of an individual or multiple columns that makes the

database more efficient and faster.

Index Seek

When the database uses the sorting of the Index to jump more directly to
the data it is looking for.

Information

The data and calculation you choose to view from a database, usually for
business purposes.

Inner Join

Combines records from two or more tables where matching values are
found.

Inner Join

During the Inner Join the only rows that are returned from the database are
those records that match between the two tables. (The ON clause tells you
which columns need to match.)

Insert

This DML keyword is a statement used to add new records to tables.

IntelliSense

Microsoft's auto-complete functionality. As you are typing, intellisense will

try to predict what you are trying to type. It is like Google's autocomplete
when you are searching.

Intermediate State

The state a record is in after it has been loaded into memory.

IP Address

A unique string of numbers separated by periods that identifies each

computer attached to the Internet.

Join Clause

The clause used to join tables in SQL.

Keyword

A word built into the SQL language.

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Like

An operator that allows you to do special relative searches to filter your

result set for a specified pattern in a column.

Listener

A program that is running and waiting for some kind of input from a client.
While it is waiting, you can say that it is listening for input/commands. SQL
Server has a listener on port 1433.

Locking

Exclusive use of data in a table to ensure changes occur without conflicts or

loss.

Login

A server-level principal in SQL.

Management Studio

The user interface to talk with SQL Server services.

Mathematic
operators

Mathematical operators allow you to add, subtract, multiply, and divide

values in your select statement. Examples: +, -, /, *

NOLOCK

A table hint that allows your query to view data in the intermediate state.
NOLOCK means the same as READUNCOMMITTED.

Non-Clustered Index

Where the index is stored separately from the table.

NULL

Unknown or unspecified values.

NULL Value

A Null Value is the absence of a value in a column.

Object Explorer

A special section of SQL Server Management Studio where you see the
databases, tables, view, stored procedures, and other objects about the
database.

Operator

Words or symbols used by SQL to make calculations or evaluations. Some

commonly used operators are AND, OR, (<), (>) and (=).

Order By Clause

The clause in SQL that allows you to sort your results.

Ordinal Column

Numerical representation of the column. Using the number of the column

instead of the column name.

Outer Join

Combines records from two or more tables and shows matching and
unmatched values.

Outer Join

There are 3 outer joins, Right, Left, and Full. The outer join will retrieve all
of the rows from one of the tables even if they don't match a record in the
other table. In the case of a left outer join, it will bring back all of the rows
from the left table even if they don't exist in the right table.

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Permission

A level of access to a securable given to a principal.

Ping

A program within the windows command line that will return the IP Address
of a domain name.

Populate

The process of adding data to a table.

Populated

A term used to describe a table that contains data.

Port

A port is like finding the address of a hotel. You know the City, Street, and
street number, but you don't know which door to go through. One door
may go to the laundry room, one may go to the bathroom, and one may go
to your hotel room. The port on a computer is the same. The IP Address
gets you to the computer/server, but the port is the door to the program
you are trying to talk to. In the case of SQL Server, this is port 1433.

Precedence

The order that you filters are applied in your where clause. Parenthesis,
And's, then OR's.

Predicate

A logical statement used to evaluate to TRUE, FALSE, or UNKNOWN for each

record.

Primary Key

Attribute of a field that ensures no two records have an identical value.

Primary Key

A primary key of a table uniquely identifies each row/record in the table.

Principal

Any account or entity that is trying to access a resource.

Project

An organization concept in Management Studio that allows you to save a

group of sql scripts together.

Project

A Sql Server Management Studio tool used to save and organize a group of
scripts to make it easier to retrieve them later.

Query

A question you ask to get information from data in a database.

Query Window

The window where you can type in different commands to send to the
server. Basically the window where you talk to the server.

RDBMS

Relational Database Management System is a tool that allows for safe

storage of data and quick retrieval of important business information.

READUNCOMMITTED A table hint that allows your query to view data in the intermediate state.

Record

A row of data in a table.

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Record set

The set of data returned as an answer to a query.

Registered Servers

A special section of SQL Server Management Studio that allows you to save
your SQL Server connections so that you don't have to remember them.

Relational Database

A database containing more than one table.

Relational Database
Management System

Abbreviated as RDBMS. A tool that allows for safe storage of data and quick
retrieval of important business information. Examples: Microsoft SQL
Server; Oracle; MySQL

Result set

Another term for record set.

Result set

The output from a query. Usually a set of rows in the form of a grid/table.

Revoke

A DCL statement that undoes the last Grant or Deny for that permission.

REVOKE

The command that allows you to remove a permission on an object to a

user.

Role

A group of permissions that can be granted as a whole by granting the role.

Rollback

Data in the intermediate state is discarded.

Row Constructors

These allow you to insert multiple records in an INSERT INTO statement.

Rows

Populate data into the table. You insert, update, select, and delete a row.

Scalar Value

A scalar value doesn't change for any row in your result set. This happens
when you specify a string value ('test string') instead of a column.

Schema

Schemas group similar database objects together so that they are better
organized and can also be secured as a group.

Script

SQL code saved as a file. Usually has a .sql extension.

Script

SQL code saved as a file.

Script

A group of database statements in the same screen or file. If saved, it

usually has a .sql extension to the file.

Scripting

When you combine more than one sql statement together. The statements
are intended to run together.

Securable

A resource that you control access to by setting security limits. Databases

and tables are examples of securables.

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Security

The ability to limit what a person can see/access.

Security

The process of limiting access to the database.

Select

A SQL command used to choose which fields to return in your query results.

Server

The server part of a client-server architecture. The server waits for

messages and then performs some kind of action. You could say that is
waits for conversations from a client.

Service

A process, much like an application, that runs in the background of your

system.

Services

Individual programs that run without an interface. This mean they run in
the background and you don't see a window that they are running.

Set

A SQL keyword that assigns values to variables.

SQL

Structured Query Language.

SQL Login

A SQL server level principal.

SQLCMD

A command-line tool to run SQL scripts or individual SQL statements.

Stored Procedure

A group of sql that is created as a single object that can be called to run the
full script.

Syntax

The order that things must occur. In the case of SQL, it is the order that you
must type the different SQL keywords for the required outcome, like
creating a view.

System Databases

Databases that SQL Server uses internally. There are 4 of them: Master,
Model, MSDB, and TempDB.

System Table

A table created by SQL Server to store settings used by SQL Server.

TAB-DELIMITED TEXT
FILE

A text file where each field is separate by a tab character.

Table

A relational database object that has columns and rows and stores the
information of the database.

TCL

Transaction Control Language, or TCL, provides options to control

transactions.

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TCL

Transaction Control Language Allows you UNDO capabilities when doing

DML. Commit, Rollback

TERMINATOR

The type of marker that designates the ending of a column or a row.

TRAN

The TRAN keyword is short for transaction.

Transaction

A group of actions treated as a single unit to ensure data integrity.

Tree-View

A hierarchical view of objects. There is plus sign that allows you to expand a
treeview. You will see this in the Object Explorer.

Truncate

Removes records from a table without any chance for a ROLLBACK. Fast,
because it doesn't write to the log files. Table is still in the database. It is
not a DROP.

TSQL

Transact SQL. It is Sql Server's flavor of SQL.

T-SQL

Transact Structured Query Language is the computer programming

language based on the SQL standard and used by Microsoft SQL Server to
create databases, populate tables and retrieve data. The Oracle equivalent
would be PL/SQL.

Unmatched records
query

A technique used to find the records between tables that dont match.

Unpopulated Table

A table with no records.

Update

A statement that changes - or manipulates - existing data without adding

any new records.

USE statement

Sets the database context.

Variable

A container that can store a string, number, or date. It must begin with a
'@' sign.

What is the object

hierarchy?

Server, Database, Schema, Tables:Views:Stored Procedures:Functions

Where (clause)

The most common optional keyword used to filer query result sets.

Wildcard

Used in SQL match patterns used in conjunction with the LIKE keyword.

Windows
Authentication

Authentication mode where all of your logins are part of a Windows

domain.

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