15+ SQL Interview Questions & Answers: Ace That Interview in 2023!

by Hiration

Preparing for interviews is a crucial step in landing your dream job.

It is the opportunity to showcase your skills, knowledge, and suitability for the role and a chance that does not come with second chances.

Among the various types of interviews, technical interviews often pose unique challenges, requiring candidates to demonstrate their proficiency in specific areas of expertise.

For individuals pursuing careers in data management and analysis, SQL (Structured Query Language) interview questions hold significant importance.

SQL, a standardized programming language for managing and manipulating databases, is widely used in the IT industry. Many organizations rely on SQL databases to store, retrieve, and analyze vast amounts of data.

As a result, employers often incorporate SQL interview questions to assess a candidate's ability to work with databases, write efficient queries, and solve complex data-related problems.

Therefore the importance of preparing for SQL interview questions. When you have prepared well, you can easily showcase your technical proficiency and command over SQL concepts and syntax.

In this guide, we will delve into the world of SQL interview questions and explore various types of SQL queries commonly encountered in interviews, provide sample questions and answers, and offer valuable tips to help you succeed.

What are SQL Interview Questions?


SQL interview questions are specific questions designed to assess a candidate's knowledge and proficiency in SQL (Structured Query Language), a programming language used for managing and manipulating databases.

These questions evaluate a candidate's ability to write SQL queries, analyze data, and solve complex problems related to database management.

SQL, often pronounced as "sequel," is a standard programming language used for communicating with and managing relational databases.

It provides a structured approach to storing, retrieving, and manipulating data stored in a relational database management system (RDBMS). SQL is widely used in the industry because of its simplicity, flexibility, and efficiency in handling large volumes of data.

SQL's relevance in the IT industry stems from its role in data-driven decision-making as it enables organizations to store and retrieve data efficiently, perform complex data analysis, generate reports, and support critical business operations.

Proficiency in SQL is highly valued in roles such as data analysts, database administrators, data engineers, and business intelligence professionals, as it empowers them to extract valuable insights from large datasets and drive informed decision-making.

Also Read: What are some of the most commonly asked interview questions in 2023?

Commonly Asked Advanced SQL Interview Questions and Answers


Given below are some advanced SQL interview questions with sample answers that you can refer to:

  1. What is the difference between UNION and UNION ALL in SQL?

Sample Answer: UNION is used to combine the result sets of two or more SELECT statements, removing duplicate rows, while UNION ALL combines the result sets without removing duplicates. UNION is more resource-intensive since it requires removing duplicates, whereas UNION ALL is faster but includes all rows from all SELECT statements.

  1. How can you optimize a slow-performing SQL query?

Sample Answer: There are several ways to optimize a slow SQL query. Some techniques include creating appropriate indexes on columns used in WHERE and JOIN conditions, minimizing the use of wildcard characters in LIKE statements, avoiding unnecessary joins or subqueries, and breaking down complex queries into smaller, more manageable parts.

  1. What is the difference between a clustered index and a non-clustered index?

Sample Answer: A clustered index determines the physical order of data rows in a table based on the indexed column(s). Each table can have only one clustered index. In contrast, a non-clustered index creates a separate structure that includes the indexed column(s) and a reference to the corresponding data rows. A table can have multiple non-clustered indexes.

  1. Explain the concept of transactions in SQL.

Sample Answer: Transactions in SQL ensure the atomicity, consistency, isolation, and durability (ACID) properties of database operations. A transaction is a sequence of one or more SQL statements that are treated as a single unit of work. It either completes successfully, committing all changes or fails, rolling back all changes, ensuring data integrity.

  1. How can you handle NULL values in SQL queries?

Sample Answer: NULL values represent missing or unknown data. To handle NULL values in SQL queries, you can use functions like IS NULL or IS NOT NULL to check for NULL values, and the COALESCE function to substitute NULL values with specified default values. Additionally, the ISNULL and NVL functions can be used in specific database systems for similar purposes.

Also Read: What are the top data engineer interview questions that you must prepare for?

5 Common Basic SQL Interview Questions with Sample Answers


Some of the most common and basic SQL interview questions asked by recruiters are listed below with sample answers:

  1. What is SQL?

Sample Answer: SQL stands for Structured Query Language. It is a programming language used to communicate with and manage relational databases. SQL allows users to store, retrieve, and manipulate data efficiently.

  1. What are the different types of SQL commands?

Sample Answer: The main types of SQL commands are:

Data Manipulation Language (DML): This is used to manipulate and retrieve data from a database, such as SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE.
Data Definition Language (DDL): Used to define and modify the structure of database objects, such as CREATE, ALTER, and DROP.
Data Control Language (DCL): Used to manage user access and permissions, such as GRANT and REVOKE.

  1. What is a primary key?

Sample Answer: A primary key is a unique identifier for each record in a table. It ensures data integrity and provides a way to uniquely identify and retrieve specific records. Primary keys are usually auto-incrementing integers or carefully chosen unique values.

  1. What is the difference between WHERE and HAVING clauses?

Sample Answer: The WHERE clause is used to filter records based on specific conditions in the SELECT statement, while the HAVING clause is used to filter records based on conditions involving aggregate functions in the GROUP BY clause.

  1. What is a foreign key?

Sample Answer: A foreign key is a field or a combination of fields in a table that refers to the primary key of another table. It establishes a relationship between two tables, allowing data integrity and enabling joins between the related tables.

Also Read: How to write a compelling SQL resume?

Amazon SQL Interview Questions


If you are interviewing with Amazon for a tech role, given below are some of the common SQL interview questions you can expect to be asked:

  1. Explain the concept of referential integrity in SQL.

Sample Answer: Referential integrity ensures that relationships between tables are maintained correctly. It involves defining foreign key constraints that enforce data consistency by ensuring that values in a foreign key column match values in the referenced primary key column of another table.

  1. Explain the difference between INNER JOIN and LEFT JOIN in SQL.

Sample Answer: INNER JOIN returns only the matching rows from both tables based on the specified condition, while LEFT JOIN returns all rows from the left (or first) table and the matching rows from the right (or second) table. In LEFT JOIN, if there are no matching rows in the right table, NULL values are returned for the right table columns.

  1. What is the purpose of the GROUP BY clause in SQL?

Sample Answer: The GROUP BY clause is used to group rows based on one or more columns. It is typically used with aggregate functions (such as SUM, COUNT, AVG) to calculate values for each group. It allows for data analysis and summary operations on subsets of data.

  1. What is the difference between a clustered index and a non-clustered index in SQL?

Sample Answer: A clustered index determines the physical order of data in a table and can be created on only one column or a combination of columns. In contrast, a non-clustered index does not affect the physical order of data and is stored separately from the table, containing a copy of the indexed columns and a reference to the actual data.

  1. Explain the ACID properties in the context of database transactions.

Sample Answer: ACID stands for Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, and Durability. Atomicity ensures that a transaction is treated as a single unit of work, either fully completed or fully rolled back. Consistency ensures that the transaction brings the database from one consistent state to another. Isolation ensures that concurrent transactions do not interfere with each other. Durability ensures that once a transaction is committed, its changes are permanently saved and survive any subsequent failures.

Also Read: How to prepare for your first job interview in 2023?

FAQs on SQL Interview Questions and Answers


  • How do I prepare for an SQL interview?

To prepare for a SQL interview, start by reviewing fundamental SQL concepts such as querying, joins, aggregations, and table relationships. Practice writing SQL queries on sample databases and solving SQL-related problems to enhance your skills and confidence. Additionally, familiarize yourself with common interview questions, understand the specific requirements of the job you're applying for, and be prepared to demonstrate your knowledge through practical examples or case studies.

  • What are 4 major types of SQL queries?

The four major types of SQL queries are SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE.

  • What are some interview questions for SQL testing?

Some of the interview questions for SQL testing could be:

  • "Write a query to retrieve the top 5 highest-paid employees from the 'Employees' table."

  • "Explain the difference between the WHERE and HAVING clauses in SQL."

  • "How would you join three tables together in a single SQL query?"

  • What are some SQL interview questions for business analysts?

Here are 3 SQL interview questions commonly asked for business analyst roles:

  • "Write a query to calculate the total revenue generated by each product category from the 'Sales' table."
  • "Explain the difference between an INNER JOIN and a LEFT JOIN in SQL, and when would you use each?"
  • "How would you use SQL to analyze customer behavior and identify trends in a given dataset?"

Want to prepare for your upcoming SQL interview with professional help? Use Hiration’s Advanced Interview Preparation Tool with 24x7 chat support and a repository of 50+ common SQL interview questions. If you have any questions, you can also write to us at support{@}hiration.com.