SQL CAST vs CONVERT: Safe Type Changes Across Databases
By Sharon Ben-Moshe · Aug 21, 2026
CAST turns one SQL data type into another. Learn when CONVERT differs, how invalid values fail, and how to write portable conversions.
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SQL formatting notes, parser errors, and dialect guides.
Practical posts on writing cleaner SQL and fixing the errors your database gives back.
SQL DELETE vs TRUNCATE vs DROP: Choose Safely
By Sharon Ben-Moshe · Aug 21, 2026
DELETE removes selected rows, TRUNCATE empties a table, and DROP removes the table itself. Learn the crucial differences before running destructive SQL.
Read postSQL Transactions: COMMIT, ROLLBACK, and SAVEPOINT
By Sharon Ben-Moshe · Aug 21, 2026
Use SQL transactions to make related changes together. Learn COMMIT, ROLLBACK, SAVEPOINT, autocommit, and portable safety checks.
Read postSQL CROSS JOIN Explained: Cartesian Products Without Surprises
By Sharon Ben-Moshe · Aug 21, 2026
A SQL CROSS JOIN returns every row combination from two inputs. Learn valid use cases, row-count math, safe formatting, and common mistakes.
Read postSQL DISTINCT vs GROUP BY: When to Use Each
By Sharon Ben-Moshe · Aug 21, 2026
DISTINCT removes duplicate result rows; GROUP BY creates groups for aggregation. Learn the practical difference, examples, and common query mistakes.
Read postSQL String Concatenation Across Databases
By Sharon Ben-Moshe · Aug 21, 2026
Concatenate SQL strings with || or CONCAT, but NULL behavior differs by database. See portable patterns for PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server, and BigQuery.
Read postBigQuery UNNEST: Turn Arrays Into Rows Safely
By Sharon Ben-Moshe · Aug 21, 2026
Use BigQuery UNNEST to flatten arrays into rows. Learn CROSS JOIN, LEFT JOIN, WITH OFFSET, aliases, and how to avoid duplicate surprises.
Read postPostgreSQL ILIKE: Case-Insensitive Search Explained
By Sharon Ben-Moshe · Aug 21, 2026
Use PostgreSQL ILIKE for case-insensitive pattern matching. Learn wildcards, locale behavior, indexes, alternatives, and safer search examples.
Read postSQL Conditional Aggregation: SUM and COUNT With CASE
By Sharon Ben-Moshe · Aug 21, 2026
Use CASE inside SUM and COUNT to calculate several conditional metrics in one grouped SQL query. Learn the pattern, NULL behavior, and pitfalls.
Read postSQL INTERSECT vs EXCEPT: Compare Query Results
By Sharon Ben-Moshe · Aug 21, 2026
INTERSECT returns shared query rows; EXCEPT returns rows in the first query but not the second. Learn set-operator rules, duplicates, and dialect caveats.
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