What is the role of SQL in data analytics, and why is it considered a foundational skill for analysts?

In most analytics projects I’ve handled and discussions at H2kinfosys, SQL plays a central role because it allows analysts to efficiently extract, filter, join, and aggregate data directly from relational databases. Since most business data is stored in structured databases, SQL is the primary tool for accessing accurate, reliable information. It enables analysts to create reports, validate data quality, and prepare datasets for visualization or advanced modeling. Without SQL, deeper analysis becomes limited and inefficient. Many professionals strengthen this foundation while pursuing an online data analytics certificate that emphasizes real-world database querying and data manipulation skills.