Understanding Syntax Similarities in SQL and Python

SQL and Python: A Comparative Guide

Enhance Your Coding Skills with SQL and Python

SQL and Python are indispensable to data analysis. The two languages are especially important for young, budding analysts. While they have different purposes, both are instrumental for working with data. In this blog, we will explore the syntactic similarities between SQL and Python (using PySpark), to help users learn about an operation that can be executed in both languages and how they can easily switch between the two.  

This can be especially handy for someone who wants to work on and learn both SQL and Python with similar operations but a very small change in the syntax orientation.

Introduction to SQL and Python Syntax

Common Syntax Patterns in SQL and Python

Practical Examples of Syntax Similarities

Tips for Mastering Both Languages

Overview of SQL Syntax

Overview of Python Syntax

Comparative Syntax Examples

Best Practices for Learning SQL and Python

Create a Table from Select: 

Syntax in SQL

CREATE TABLE  new_table_name AS SELECT * FROM table;

Syntax in PySpark

(df.write.format(“parquet”).saveAsTable(“new_table_name”))

Insert data into Table:

Syntax in SQL

INSERT INTO  new_table_name FROM tableabc;

Syntax in PySpark

(df.write.insertInto (“new_table_name”))

Create a Table with Columns specified:

Syntax in SQL

CREATE TABLE  new_table_name AS SELECT  column1, column2 FROM table;

Syntax in PySpark

(df.select(“column1″,”column2”).write.format(“parquet”).saveAsTable(“new_table_name”))

Columns Type Change:

Syntax in SQL

ALTER TABLE tablename ALTER COLUMN column TYPE new_type;

Syntax in PySpark

df.withColumn(“column”,df[“column”].cast(“new_type”))

Column Renaming:

Syntax in SQL

ALTER TABLE tablename RENAME COLUMN column1 TO column2;

Syntax in PySpark

df.withColumnRenamed(“column1”, “column2”)

Column Drop:

Syntax in SQL

df.withColumnRenamed(“column1”, “column2”)

Syntax in PySpark

df.drop(“column”)

These are some basic data manipulation operations with similar syntax in SQL and Python.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of my blog, where we’ll explore more advanced operations!