Skip to main content

AI Prompts for SQL

A collection of 16 prompt templates for using AI tools (ChatGPT, Copilot, Claude) to accelerate SQL development and learning.

1. Solve an SQL Task​

In my SQL Server database, we have two tables: orders (order_id, sales, customer_id, product_id) and customers (customer_id, first_name, last_name, country). Write a query to rank customers based on their sales. Write three different versions and compare readability and performance.

2. Improve Readability​

The following SQL Server query is long and hard to understand. Improve its readability, remove redundancy, and explain each change.

3. Optimize Performance​

The following SQL Server query is slow. Propose optimizations, provide the improved query, and explain each improvement.

4. Analyze Execution Plans​

This image shows the execution plan. Describe it step by step, identify bottlenecks, and suggest optimizations.

5. Debug Errors​

The query causes error: "Msg 8120, Level 16, State 1". Explain the error, find the root cause, and suggest how to fix it.

6. Explain Results​

I don't understand the result of this query. Break down how SQL processes it step by step.

7. Style & Format Code​

Restyle this SQL code: align aliases, keep it compact, follow best practices.

8. Documentation & Comments​

This query lacks documentation. Add a leading comment, inline comments where needed, and create a business rules document.

9. Improve Database DDL​

Review this DDL for naming consistency, data type optimization, integrity constraints, index coverage, and normalization.

10. Generate Test Data​

Generate realistic INSERT statements for this DDL. Keep the dataset small, ensure FK relationships are valid, and avoid NULLs.

11. Create a SQL Course​

Create a comprehensive SQL course roadmap: start with fundamentals, advance to complex topics, focus on data analytics use cases.

12. Understand a Concept​

Explain SQL Window Functions: what they are, an analogy, when to use them, syntax, examples, and top 3 use cases.

13. Compare Concepts​

Compare Window Functions vs GROUP BY: key differences, when to use each, pros/cons, and a side-by-side summary table.

14. Practice SQL​

Act as an SQL trainer. Provide a dataset, give tasks that increase in difficulty, simulate SQL Server results, and review my queries.

15. Interview Prep​

Act as an interviewer. Ask common SQL interview questions, progress to advanced topics, evaluate my answers, and give feedback.

16. Exam Prep​

Prepare me for a SQL exam with practice questions, progressive difficulty, answer evaluation, and feedback.

How to Use These Prompts
  1. Copy the prompt template
  2. Replace the placeholder SQL code with your own
  3. Paste into your AI tool of choice
  4. Iterate on the response