Working with SQL code to maintain a database

Working with the MySQL server and SQL code provides flexibility, as you can construct complex queries that MySQL Workbench cannot easily create. You can not only run the SQL directly from Workbench but also send SQL statements to control the server and read data from external systems such as Node.js, Microsoft Access, and Excel. We will be doing a lot of work with these systems in the upcoming chapters. SQL is the main way you will work with the MySQL server from external applications.

This chapter will get you started with raw SQL to perform the most common tasks you will be required to perform on the server.

Note

The SQL statements can be created differently and sent to the server for execution. For instance, you will learn about how to run SQL statements in JavaScript in Chapter 7 and Chapter 8.

In the next section, we will create a new database using SQL queries.