While reviewing a PR today, it struck me how SQL queries are written in a logical order that differs from how the database actually executes them. SELECT name FROM employees WHERE age > 30 ORDER BY name; Simple, right? But did you know SQL doesn't execute the query in this order? Let’s dive into the actual execution order of SQL queries and why understanding this can save you from common mistakes and boost your database skills.

While reviewing a PR today, it struck me how SQL queries are written in a logical order that differs from how the database actually executes them.
SELECT name
FROM employees
WHERE age > 30
ORDER BY name;
Simple, right? But did you know SQL doesn't execute the query in this order?
Let’s dive into the actual execution order of SQL queries and why understanding this can save you from common mistakes and boost your database skills.