Stage 2 · Lesson 8 of 9
Data basics and simple SQL
Products store their data in , and most analytics questions come down to a , a precise question asked of the data. SQL is the language for writing these queries. Learn the basics: SELECT picks columns FROM a table, WHERE filters rows, ORDER BY sorts, GROUP BY counts and sums per group, and JOIN combines tables.
Also learn what an event is in . An event is a record that a user did something, such as signed_up or created_project. Events add up to funnels, which show where users drop off, and charts, which show who comes back.
use this weekly. Writers and advocates use it to judge which pages or tutorials help.
Common traptrusting a number without asking what it counts, for example whether it includes test accounts, duplicates or only one platform. Always ask how a metric is defined before you act on it.
A question to check yourself, an AI practice session and 1 cheat sheet entry come with the full roadmap. Unlock
Resources for this stage
Start with· follow one of these
- VideoFreeCrash Course Computer Science
CrashCourse · Beginner
Short free videos on how computers, networks and software work, pitched at beginners
- CourseFreeSelect Star SQL
Zi Chong Kao · Beginner
A free interactive SQL tutorial on real data, enough for product and docs analytics