Top 6 Free SQL Books For Beginners and Experienced [PDF + Online]

 There is no doubt that SQL is one of the most essential skills for Programmers, IT professionals, Software Engineers, Quality Analysts, Project Manager, Data scientists, Database admins, and Business Analysts. I had even mentioned this as one of the top skills in my post about 10 things every programmer should know, if you haven't read that yet, you can read it here, it's completely worth your time. Since many Enterprise applications use the relational database at their backend, like Oracle, Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, it's crucial to learn SQL to work with those applications and use the data stored on those databases.

The SQL is pronounced as Sequel or S.Q.L has been around for many years, and it will be around for many more coming years. It is also one of the matured technology; hence, there are a lot of free resources, like books, articles, tutorials, and courses are available online.

I have been also sharing a lot of free eBooks, websites, and courses on different technologies, like Java, Python, and Database, and today, I'll share some of the free SQL books online and offline reading.

Some of the SQL books are available in PDF, .epub, and .mobi format as well. Some of the books are available for free to read online others you can download in PDF format. Unlike many other books available online, these are not pirated or illegal copies.

In fact, these are the books that are made available for free from publishers and authors for the benefit of the community. So, you can safely download and read at your convenience.  

6 Free SQL Books for Beginners to Read Online

Here is my list of some of the best books to learn SQL, which is absolutely free. You can either download their PDF version for offline reading, or you can read them online.

1. SQL Indexing and Tuning Book: Use the Index, Luke!

Author: Markus Winand
Download: http://use-the-index-luke.com/
Description: “Use the Index, Luke!: A guide to database performance” is a free online SQL indexing and tuning book by Markus Winand. This book is for developers; it avoids unnecessary details about database internals. You can read it online for free at  http://use-the-index-luke.com

Once you understand key concepts like how SQL query gets executed, and how indexes are used to make your query faster, you can read this book to dig deeper.

2. Oracle PL/SQL Programming Fifth Edition

Author: by Steven Feuerstein and Bill Pribyl
Download: http://www.red-gate.com/products/oracle-development/entrypage/oracle-pl-sql-programming
Description: Free eBook “Oracle PL/SQL Programming, Fifth Edition” from Red Gate Software. This book is the definitive reference on PL/SQL, considered throughout the database community to be the best Oracle programming book available.

Like its predecessors, this fifth edition of Oracle PL/SQL Programming covers language fundamentals, advanced coding techniques, and best practices for using Oracle’s powerful procedural language.

3. Developing Time-Oriented Database Applications in SQL

Author: Ron Plew and Ryan Stephens.
Download: http://www.cs.arizona.edu/~rts/publications.html#books
Description: “Developing Time-Oriented Database Applications in SQL” by Richard T. Snodgrass is available for free in pdf format from the author.

It offers incisive advice on recording temporal data using SQL data types, defining appropriate integrity constraints, updating temporal tables, and querying temporal tables with interactive and embedded SQL.

Also, it provides case studies detailing real-world problems and solutions in areas such as event data, state-based data, partitioned data, and audit logs.

4. Sams Teach Yourself SQL in 24 Hours

Author: Ron Plew and Ryan Stephens.
Download: http://www.informit.com/library/library.aspx?b=STY_Sql_24hours
Description: This is a free SQL book from Sams Reference Library. Sams Teach Yourself SQL in 24 Hours, Third Edition presents the key features of SQL (Structured Query Language) in an easy-to-understand format with updated code examples, notes, diagrams, exercises, and quizzes. New material covers more information.

5. Structured Query Language (SQL): a Practical Introduction

Author: Philip Greenspun
Download: http://philip.greenspun.com/sql/
Description: This is an excellent introductory text for learning SQL. There is no more straightforward text for learning the syntax and structure of SQL. Download it for free. It’s a slim book that gets right down to business and shows you how to use the language with crystal-clear explanations and examples. 

6. SQL for Web Nerds 

Author: Philip Greenspun
Download: http://philip.greenspun.com/sql/
Description: This is a free online SQL book by Philip Greenspun. First and foremost, we keep our readers in the world of Web services. Most often, they are working within the data model for online communities chronicled in Philip and Alex’s Guide to Web Publishing.

Sometimes we drag readers into the dreary world of commerce, but at least, it is the flashier-than-average corner of e-commerce. You can read it for FREE at http://philip.greenspun.com/sql/

That's all in this list of Free SQL books for beginners and experienced developers. You can download these books as free PDF or read them online as well. Even if you know SQL and have been using it for few years, you will be amazed to learn many new things in some of these books, especially the first two books are great for experienced SQL programmers, I just loved them when I found first and has since read them many times already.

Thanks for reading this article so far, if you like these best free SQL and Database books, eBooks, and PDFs, then please share them with your friends and colleagues as well. If you have any questions or you know a good SQL book that is available for free and wants to add to this list, then please feel free to drop a note.