Data Analysis & SQL5.0 · 0 ratings
Explain An Unfamiliar SQL Query In Plain English
Reverse-engineers a complex inherited query into a clear narrative, business meaning, and risk list.
Role-BasedStep-by-StepStructured-Output
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.
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