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It isn't specific to MySQL, but an excellent book for understanding relational databases is _An Introduction to Database Systems_ by C. J. Date. Reading that (e

It isn't specific to MySQL, but an excellent book for understanding relational databases is _An Introduction to Database Systems_ by C. J. Date. Reading that (even just the first several chapters, and then others as needed) will help you understand the mindset behind both SQL and relational databases in general. While I had figured out the basics of SQL on my own, I found that getting the big relational ideas made it much clearer why some schema designs are better, the intent behind some aspects of SQL that seemed strange, etc. It has a new edition published every couple years (it's a textbook), so you can usually get the previous edition for quite cheap. Also, note that a lot of the books on SQL deal specifically with MySQL, SQL server, etc., and don't always make it clear which aspects are the implementation vs. which are standard SQL. (I was learning with SQLite and Postgresql, so I probably got bit by this more than you will.)

babyboy808 18y ago
Thank you for the indepth response. An Introduction to Database Systems is quite pricey though but if it does the job...
- silentbicycle 18y ago
  It shouldn't be pricey. I got a copy of the 7th edition hardcover for about $8. This one: http://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Database-Systems-C-Date/dp/0201385902 http://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Database-Systems-C-Date/d... I doubt the concepts and mathematical model behind relational databases have changed that much between 1999 and 2003. :) Also, most the code in the book is in a language called "Tutorial D", with asides about how it would look in SQL (and equally frequent complaints about how SQL fails to live up to the mathematical ideal of the relational model). It's not an SQL tutorial, but once you understand the relational model, you will probably be able to burn through tutorials -- it will just be learning syntax, not completely new ideas.

babyboy808 18y ago

Thank you for the indepth response. An Introduction to Database Systems is quite pricey though but if it does the job...

silentbicycle 18y ago
It shouldn't be pricey. I got a copy of the 7th edition hardcover for about $8. This one: http://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Database-Systems-C-Date/dp/0201385902 http://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Database-Systems-C-Date/d... I doubt the concepts and mathematical model behind relational databases have changed that much between 1999 and 2003. :) Also, most the code in the book is in a language called "Tutorial D", with asides about how it would look in SQL (and equally frequent complaints about how SQL fails to live up to the mathematical ideal of the relational model). It's not an SQL tutorial, but once you understand the relational model, you will probably be able to burn through tutorials -- it will just be learning syntax, not completely new ideas.