Finding your way with the schema panel
Before you can ask a question, you need to know which table holds the answer. The schema panel next to the editor lists every table in Brightwell's database, and the columns each one has.
Open a table in the panel to see its columns, what type of value each one holds, and a short
description. For example, products has:
| Column | Type | What it holds |
|---|---|---|
name | VARCHAR (text) | The product name |
category | VARCHAR (text) | Its category, such as Catering |
list_price | DECIMAL (number) | The current price, in pounds, before VAT |
launched_on | DATE | When it was first sold |
A good habit: before writing a query, look at the table with SELECT * to see what's in it.
Empty cells
Some cells show NULL. That means "no value": for example, a supplier whose email address Brightwell doesn't know. NULL isn't zero and it isn't blank text. It's simply missing. You'll learn how to work with it in module 4.