Sub-queries vs Window Functions vs Common Table Expressions: Which Should You Use in SQL?

The article compares SQL sub-queries, window functions, and CTEs, explaining how each works and when to use them.

It argues these techniques are complementary tools, not direct substitutes, and should be chosen based on the query goal.

Performance, readability, and dataset size are key factors in deciding which construct best fits a query.

Examples using an employees table and concepts like RANK and PARTITION BY show how the patterns apply in practice.