Why Python Developers Should Learn SQL

Python developers don’t need to learn SQL – or do they? Find out how adding SQL to your Python toolkit can supercharge your programming skills (and possibly your job search).

If you want to start your journey as a programmer or data analyst, Python may be the first language you learn. But to become a more attractive candidate in the job market, it's worth adding more skills to your repertoire.

Learning SQL in addition to Python may be your key to success. These two essential technologies often work together in data-related projects. If you know both languages you will be two steps ahead of your competitors. Let’s take a look at the benefits of being able to work with both Python and SQL.

Why Is Python Popular?

Python has been among the best-known programming languages for years. Its popularity is rising, and not without reason. Many companies use Python for their projects; knowing it can open up a wide range of career opportunities in many areas. We encourage you to learn Python, even if you are new to the IT industry.

Python has a clear and readable syntax, which makes it beginner friendly. If you are starting to learn Python, our Python Basics course is designed for people with little to no coding experience. It contains lots of interactive exercises; you will type in real code and immediately see how it works.

Aside from being easy to learn, Python is also a versatile language with a wide range of libraries and frameworks. Whether you're interested in web development, data analysis, AI and machine learning, scripting tasks, automation, or system administration, you’ll find that Python has powerful tools and resources available to support your goals.

What else should you know about Python? Well, this language is known for its strong and welcoming community and many learning resources. It plays well with other programming languages and systems, allowing you to leverage existing codebases.

What Is a Python Developer?

If you are intrigued by this short description of some of Python’s advantages, it is very possible that you have the Python developer gene in you. What exactly is a Python developer?

Generally speaking, a Python developer is a software engineer or programmer who specializes in using the Python language to develop applications, websites, or software solutions.

A Python developer is skilled in writing code, designing algorithms, and implementing software solutions. They need to know the Python standard library and the various frameworks and libraries commonly used in their specific field, such as Django or Flask (web development), pandas (data science and analysis), or SciPy (machine learning).

Being a Python Developer means a lot of interesting opportunities. Working in this field is rewarding on many levels, including financially. According to Glassdoor, the estimated total pay for a Python developer in the US is $102,672 per year!

Why Should Python Developers Learn SQL?

Python is a great tool that’s highly in demand. So, why should Python developers learn SQL instead of working only with one language?

Structured Query Language (SQL) is the language used to interact with relational databases and handle data in a structured way. There are several reasons why Python developers should learn SQL.

Let’s start with databases. Many applications and systems use relational databases to store and manage data. SQL is the standard language for working with these databases, and Python developers need to know SQL to interact with database

SQL makes it much easier to perform complex queries and analyses of large datasets. Python developers can use SQL to efficiently filter, sort, and group data before processing it further in Python. SQL is also helpful in data manipulation tasks like updating, deleting, and inserting data into databases. Python developers can use SQL to create, modify, and delete database tables, which is useful for managing data.

Learning SQL can improve communication and collaboration between Python developers and database administrators. Python developers can use SQL to extract data from databases, and database administrators can use SQL to optimize queries and tune database performance.

Python is often used in full-stack development, where both front-end and back-end development are involved. Backend systems typically rely on databases to store and retrieve data. Understanding SQL enables developers to design and manage database schemas, write efficient queries, and ensure smooth communication between backend and frontend components.

Python is widely used in data analysis and scientific computing. Many data analysis tasks involve working with large datasets stored in databases. Knowing SQL allows Python developers to extract and transform data efficiently, perform aggregations and calculations, and generate meaningful insights through SQL queries.

We hear a lot about the technical and IT job market as a perfect place to develop, a place with unlimited possibilities that’s just waiting for new developers. In some ways this is true, but it does not mean that there is no competition and jobs are just handed out. Learning both SQL and Python will broaden your job opportunities. You will become more versatile and valuable to potential employers.

Plus, many data-related jobs require knowledge of both Python and SQL. So don’t hesitate – the more you learn, the more competitive you’ll be in the job market.

How to Learn SQL

You already know how to learn Python. Now let’s figure out the best way to learn SQL.

Fortunately, like Python, SQL is quite easy to learn. If you already know Python, learning SQL shouldn’t be a problem at all. But to learn SQL effectively, you should start with fundamentals. The SQL Basics online course on our sister site LearnSQL.com will provide you with a comprehensive foundation. It has almost 130 interactive exercises where you will write real queries and check if they work. You will start with the fundamental concepts of databases, such as tables, rows, and columns.  And if you’re unsure what to do after you understand core SQL, check out this article on what to do after learning SQL basics.

If you already know you want to learn SQL in depth – maybe because you want a data science or analysis job – you might choose to go straight to the SQL from A to Z track. This is a set of seven online interactive courses that offers a huge amount of exercises, coding challenges, and helpful information. Finally, the All Forever SQL package is for people dedicated to learning. Whenever you want to learn more or just revise your knowledge, this package is the perfect solution. It’ll help you travel the full development path, from the basics of SQL to advanced-level concepts.

Python Developers with SQL Are In Demand

If you’re thinking about becoming a Python developer, learning SQL is a smart choice. You’ll gain the ability to work effectively with databases, perform data analysis tasks, and build robust back-end systems. Knowing both languages provides a strong foundation for developing data-driven applications and working with large datasets. And knowing both SQL and Python will enhance your career prospects. So don’t wait! Learn Python and SQL and you’ll be able to work more effectively and find a satisfying job.