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Getting Started with SQL Queries

Written by Andrew Gould

In this tutorial

Creating a New Query Window
Adding Comments to a Query

This tutorial teaches you how to write the most basic of SQL queries and will introduce you to some good habits that are worth getting into early on in your query-writing career. If you haven't already done so, now is the time to open SQL Server Management Studio and get ready to start querying.

Creating a New Query Window

Before you can start writing a query you need to create a new query window. There are several ways to do this, but whichever method you choose it makes sense to select the database on which you'll be running the query first:

Use the Object Explorer window to select the database you want to use. Here we've clicked on the name of the Movies database.

Once you've selected the database you can create a query window in one of several ways:

Click the New Query button on the toolbar.

Look for this button at the top left of the screen.

From the menu choose: File > New > Query with Current Connection.

Choose this option to create a new query window.

Right-click on the database and choose New Query.

Right-click on the database you want to use and select the option shown here.

Press CTRL + N on the keyboard.

Whichever method you choose you should see a new query window appear with a flashing text cursor in the top left corner.

You should also see the name of the selected database in the drop down list on the toolbar.

Adding Comments to a Query

You can use comments to explain what your query does to other users, or even yourself when you come back to look at your code later. You can add a comment to any line in your query by typing in two dashes, as shown below: