22-25 April 2026 
Mastering T-SQL Querying Fundamentals
2015TL; DR
T-SQL is rooted in mathematics. Mastering it can take a lifetime. In order to write correct and robust code the most critical thing is to learn the fundamentals correctly. This seminar provides you with strong foundations to build your knowledge on.
Session Details
T-SQL was named the most popular programming language in 2013. If you work with SQL Server in any capacity, as a developer, DBA, BI specialist, analyst, power user, you need to know your T-SQL. The thing is, this language is deceptive. When you start learning it you quickly get to write queries with filters, sorting, grouping, joining, and so on. You might get a false sense of confidence and the wrong impression that the language is easy to master.
In reality, most get to learn T-SQL without understanding the fundamentals correctly, and this incorrect understanding can lead to using the language incorrectly. Often people assume things about the language that are not guaranteed, and end up with bugs in their code. This seminar is dedicated to correct understanding of T-SQL querying fundamentals.
You will learn about the principal elements in the foundations of the language. You will learn about logical query processing—what I find to be the most critical aspect of T-SQL that any T-SQL practitioner should master. Then the seminar covers fundamentals of query constructs like joins, subqueries, table expressions (derived tables, CTEs, views, table valued functions), the APPLY operator, and set operators.
If time will permit, the seminar will also cover the fundamentals of more specialized query constructs like PIVOT, UNPIVOT, grouping sets and window functions. Know your T-SQL querying fundamentals well, and then tackling advanced problems will be so much easier.
In reality, most get to learn T-SQL without understanding the fundamentals correctly, and this incorrect understanding can lead to using the language incorrectly. Often people assume things about the language that are not guaranteed, and end up with bugs in their code. This seminar is dedicated to correct understanding of T-SQL querying fundamentals.
You will learn about the principal elements in the foundations of the language. You will learn about logical query processing—what I find to be the most critical aspect of T-SQL that any T-SQL practitioner should master. Then the seminar covers fundamentals of query constructs like joins, subqueries, table expressions (derived tables, CTEs, views, table valued functions), the APPLY operator, and set operators.
If time will permit, the seminar will also cover the fundamentals of more specialized query constructs like PIVOT, UNPIVOT, grouping sets and window functions. Know your T-SQL querying fundamentals well, and then tackling advanced problems will be so much easier.
3 things you'll get out of this session
Speakers
Itzik Ben-Gan's previous sessions
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The purpose of this session is to have some fun with T-SQL and to learn practical tips and tricks that will help you improve and optimize your solutions.