Comprehensive Guide to Study Big Query
Big Query is a fully-managed, serverless, and highly scalable enterprise data warehouse
offered by Google Cloud. It is designed to handle massive datasets and perform complex
SQL-based analytics quickly. Below is a structured guide to mastering Big Query.
1. Understand the Basics of Big Query
What is Big Query?
A cloud-based data warehouse.
Enables fast SQL queries on large datasets.
Server less and scalable (no infrastructure management required).
Key Features:
Massive Scalability: Handles petabytes of data.
SQL-based Analytics: Familiar SQL syntax for data analysis.
Integration: Works seamlessly with Google Cloud products.
Machine Learning Integration: Built-in support for machine learning models.
2. Prerequisites for Learning BigQuery
Skills to Build:
SQL Proficiency: Understand SELECT, JOIN, WHERE, GROUP BY, etc.
Data Warehousing Concepts: Basics of schemas, tables, and ETL processes.
Cloud Basics: Familiarity with Google Cloud Platform (GCP) services.
Tools You'll Need:
A Google Cloud account (sign up for free with credits for initial exploration).
Access to sample datasets (BigQuery provides public datasets for practice).
3. Learning Path for BigQuery
Step 1: Set Up Your Environment
1. Create a Google Cloud Account: Go to Google Cloud Console.
2. Enable BigQuery API: From the console, enable the BigQuery API for your project.
3. Access the BigQuery Interface: Navigate to the BigQuery section in the console.
Step 2: Familiarize Yourself with BigQuery Concepts
Projects and Datasets: A dataset is a container for tables, similar to a database in
SQL.
Tables: The fundamental unit of storage in BigQuery. Learn about table creation,
schemas, and importing data.
Storage Options: Understand native tables, external tables, and partitions.
Step 3: Work with SQL Queries
Practice querying data using:
o Basic SELECT Statements: Filter data, sort results, and aggregate values.
o Joins: Combine data from multiple tables.
o Window Functions: Perform calculations across rows related to the current
row.
o Nested Queries: Work with subqueries for complex datasets.
Step 4: Loading and Exporting Data
Import data from CSV, JSON, or Google Sheets.
Use Google Cloud Storage for larger datasets.
Export results to external files or other GCP services.
Step 5: Optimize Query Performance
Use table partitions and clustering for faster queries.
Understand pricing: BigQuery charges based on data scanned; optimize query costs.
Leverage materialized views for repeated queries.
Step 6: Work with BigQuery ML
Build machine learning models directly using SQL (e.g., regression, classification).
Use ML.PREDICT for predictions on your data.
Step 7: Integrate BigQuery with Other Tools
Connect BigQuery to BI tools like Looker, Tableau, or Data Studio.
Use BigQuery APIs or client libraries (Python, Java, etc.) for programmatic access.
Step 8: Explore Advanced Features
User-defined functions (UDFs) for custom computations.
Query federation to query data stored in external sources.
Streaming data inserts for real-time analytics.
4. Practical Applications
Data Analytics: Customer segmentation, trend analysis, sales reporting.
Real-time Insights: Monitor live dashboards for immediate decision-making.
Machine Learning: Train models on historical data for predictions.
Big Data Processing: Analyze massive datasets (e.g., IoT data, social media data).
5. Resources for Learning BigQuery
Documentation and Tutorials:
Google’s Official Documentation: BigQuery Docs
BigQuery Tutorials: Step-by-step guides on the Google Cloud website.
Online Courses:
Coursera: "BigQuery for Data Analysis" (offered by Google).
Udemy: Courses on BigQuery and GCP data engineering.
YouTube: Free tutorials from channels like "Google Cloud Tech."
Hands-on Practice:
Explore Google’s Public Datasets for practice.
Participate in Kaggle competitions that utilize BigQuery.
Use BigQuery Sandbox (free tier) to avoid incurring charges.
Books:
"Google BigQuery: The Definitive Guide" by Valliappa Lakshmanan and Jordan
Tigani.
"Cloud Analytics with Google BigQuery" by Sanket Thodge.
6. Build a Portfolio
Work on real-world projects (e.g., sales analysis, web traffic monitoring).
Share your work on GitHub or Kaggle.
Create dashboards integrating BigQuery with BI tools.
7. Stay Updated
Follow the Google Cloud Blog for updates and best practices.
Join communities like Google Cloud Community.
8. Tips for Mastery
Practice consistently with large datasets.
Focus on query optimization to balance performance and cost.
Build a project pipeline using BigQuery and other GCP services like Dataflow or
Cloud Functions.
By following this guide and regularly practicing, you’ll become proficient in using BigQuery
for data analytics, big data processing, and machine learning tasks.
Comprehensive BigQuery Syllabus
This syllabus is designed to take learners from beginner to advanced proficiency in
BigQuery. It is divided into modules, covering fundamental concepts, advanced topics, and
practical applications.
Module 1: Introduction to BigQuery
1. Overview of BigQuery
o What is BigQuery?
o Key Features and Benefits
o Use Cases: Analytics, Big Data, and Machine Learning
2. Getting Started
o Setting Up a Google Cloud Account
o Navigating the BigQuery Console
o Enabling the BigQuery API
3. BigQuery Basics
o Projects, Datasets, and Tables
o Difference Between Data Warehousing and Databases
o Understanding Serverless Architecture
Module 2: SQL Fundamentals for BigQuery
1. Basic SQL Queries
o SELECT Statements
o Filtering with WHERE
o Sorting Data with ORDER BY
2. Data Aggregation
o GROUP BY and Aggregation Functions (COUNT, SUM, AVG, MIN, MAX)
o HAVING Clause for Filtered Aggregates
3. Joins
o Inner, Outer, and Cross Joins
o Combining Data from Multiple Tables
4. Subqueries and CTEs
o Writing Nested Queries
o Using Common Table Expressions (WITH Clauses)
Module 3: BigQuery Data Structure
1. Understanding Schemas
o Defining Tables and Their Fields
o Data Types in BigQuery (STRING, INT64, FLOAT64, etc.)
2. Table Types
o Native Tables
o External Tables
o Partitioned and Clustered Tables
3. Data Storage and Formats
o CSV, JSON, Parquet, and Avro
o Best Practices for Data Import and Export
Module 4: Working with BigQuery
1. Data Loading and Exporting
o Loading Data from Google Cloud Storage
o Streaming Inserts for Real-Time Analytics
o Exporting Query Results to External Files
2. Exploring Public Datasets
o Accessing and Querying Public Datasets
o Analyzing Open Data for Practice
3. Running Queries
o Query Execution Workflow
o Understanding BigQuery Pricing and Query Costs
o Optimizing Queries to Reduce Costs
Module 5: Advanced SQL in BigQuery
1. Window Functions
o ROW_NUMBER, RANK, and DENSE_RANK
o Aggregate Functions in Window Queries
o Partitioning and Ordering Data
2. User-Defined Functions (UDFs)
o Writing Custom Functions in SQL and JavaScript
o Practical Use Cases of UDFs
3. Nested and Repeated Data
o Working with Arrays and Structs
o UNNEST Function for Flattening Data
4. Query Optimization
o Table Partitioning and Clustering
o Query Caching and Query Pricing
o Best Practices for Writing Efficient Queries
Module 6: BigQuery Integrations
1. Using BigQuery with BI Tools
o Connecting BigQuery to Data Studio
o Integration with Tableau and Looker
o Creating Dashboards from BigQuery Data
2. BigQuery APIs and Client Libraries
o Introduction to BigQuery API
o Using Python Client Libraries for Programmatic Access
o Automating Workflows with BigQuery
3. Data Federation
o Querying External Sources (Cloud Storage, Google Sheets, etc.)
o Benefits of Query Federation
Module 7: BigQuery ML
1. Introduction to BigQuery ML
o Overview of Machine Learning in BigQuery
o Supported Algorithms (Linear Regression, Classification, Clustering)
2. Building Models
o Creating Models Using SQL (CREATE MODEL)
o Training and Evaluating Models
3. Making Predictions
o Using ML. PREDICT to Generate Predictions
o Interpreting Prediction Results
4. Advanced Topics
o Hyper parameter Tuning
o Time Series Forecasting
o Exporting Models for Deployment
Module 8: Real-World Applications
1. Big Data Analytics
o Customer Segmentation and Behaviour Analysis
o Web Traffic Analysis
o Financial Reporting and Forecasting
2. Real-Time Insights
o Monitoring Streaming Data
o Building Live Dashboards
3. Case Studies
o Examples of BigQuery Use in Various Industries (e.g., Retail, Healthcare,
IoT)
Module 9: Security, Governance, and Administration
1. Access Control
o IAM Roles and Permissions
o Table and Dataset-Level Security
2. Data Governance
o Data Encryption in BigQuery
o Managing Data Lineage and Compliance
3. Monitoring and Logging
o Using Google Cloud Monitoring for BigQuery
o Query Auditing and Performance Metrics
Module 10: Capstone Project
1. Project Design
o Define Objectives and Scope
o Select Data Sources (Public or Custom Datasets)
2. Implementation
o Data Ingestion and Cleaning
o Query Design and Analysis
o Visualization and Reporting
3. Final Presentation
o Share Insights with Dashboards
o Optimize for Scalability and Cost
Resources and References
1. Documentation:
o Google BigQuery Documentation
2. Tools:
o BigQuery Sandbox for Free Practice
o Google Cloud Console
3. Books and Courses:
o Google BigQuery: The Definitive Guide by Valliappa Lakshmanan and Jordan
Tigani
o Online courses from Coursera, Udemy, or Pluralsight
Assessment and Certification
1. Quizzes and Assignments
o Module-Wise Tests
o Real-World Problem Solving
2. Final Examination
o Comprehensive Test Covering All Modules
3. Certification
o Google Cloud BigQuery Certification
o Certificates from Online Platforms
This syllabus provides a complete roadmap for studying and mastering BigQuery, catering to
both beginners and advanced learners.
