How to Use CTEs in SQL (with real examples)

📰 Medium · Data Science

Learn to use Common Table Expressions (CTEs) in SQL to simplify complex queries and improve readability

intermediate Published 19 Apr 2026

Action Steps

Write a SQL query using a nested subquery
Replace the nested subquery with a CTE
Define the CTE using the WITH keyword
Reference the CTE in the main query
Test and optimize the query for better performance

Who Needs to Know This

Data scientists and data analysts can benefit from using CTEs to write more efficient and readable SQL queries, making it easier for team members to understand and maintain the code

Key Insight

💡 CTEs can make SQL queries more readable, reusable, and efficient