Learning SQL opens up career opportunities because it’s used by the most common relational database management systems, including Oracle, Sybase, Microsoft SQL Server, Access, and Ingres.

Start by learning the fundamentals of SQL and MS SQL Server before jumping into data manipulation skills and conditional logic and data conversion techniques.

Microsoft is introducing other capabilities to SQL Server 2025 to facilitate the development of AI-based applications, including JSON support, a Python driver, and change event streaming.