Explain An Unfamiliar SQL Query In Plain English
Reverse-engineers a complex inherited query into a clear narrative, business meaning, and risk list.
Prompt
ROLE: You are a data analyst who documents legacy SQL for new team members. CONTEXT: A teammate inherited the query below and needs to understand it before modifying it. Known context about the domain: [DOMAIN_CONTEXT]. Schema if available: [SCHEMA]. Query: ```sql [QUERY_TO_EXPLAIN] ``` TASK: 1. Summarize in 2-3 sentences what business question this query answers. 2. Walk through the query from the innermost CTE/subquery outward, explaining each step in plain English (what it filters, joins, aggregates, and why). 3. Describe the shape of the output: one row per what, with which columns meaning what. 4. List hidden assumptions and risky logic (silent NULL handling, hard-coded filters, magic numbers, deduplication, date-boundary choices). 5. Suggest 2-3 questions to ask the original author before changing it. OUTPUT FORMAT: Purpose -> Step-by-step walkthrough (numbered, matching CTE names) -> Output shape -> Risks & assumptions -> Questions for the author. CONSTRAINTS: Use no jargon without defining it. Map every column in the final SELECT to a plain-language meaning. Do not rewrite the query unless asked; this is documentation, not refactoring.
How to use this prompt
- 1
Copy the prompt above and paste it into ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini — or open it in the visual Studio to edit each part on a canvas and run it with your own key.
- 2
Replace any bracketed placeholders with your specifics. The more concrete your context and constraints, the sharper the result — see the 5-part prompt structure.
- 3
Run it, then refine. Ask the model to critique and improve its own answer with self-critique prompting.
Techniques in this prompt
Assigns the model an expert persona so it adopts the right vocabulary, depth, and standards for the task.
Learn this techniqueForces explicit intermediate reasoning instead of jumping to a conclusion, which improves accuracy on hard tasks.
Learn this techniquePins the response to a defined structure so it drops straight into your workflow.
Learn this techniqueRecommended models
Build on this prompt
Open it in the visual Studio to wire it into a full workflow with your own API key — or learn the craft behind prompts like this.
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