Business analysis glossary
SELECT Statement
What it is
A SELECT statement is the SQL command that reads data. It names the columns wanted, the table they come from, optional conditions to filter rows, and an optional order for the results. Other parts commonly used are FROM, WHERE, GROUP BY, HAVING and ORDER BY, which are written in a fixed order.
Why it matters
Nearly every analysis starts with SELECT. Writing it precisely means you can answer a question exactly and also spot when a result looks wrong. It is read-only, so it is a safe place for beginners to start, since it does not change the stored data.
Example
SELECT order_id, total FROM orders WHERE total > 100 ORDER BY total DESC; returns the order number and amount of every Marlow Online Store order over 100, with the biggest first. The query names its columns on purpose rather than using a star, which makes the result easier to read and to explain.