Code Review (SQL)

Code review (or peer review) of SQL examines queries before they're deployed to production. Reviewers check: Does the logic match intent? Are there SQL errors or performance issues? Does it follow team standards? Code review typically happens through pull requests: the author submits code, reviewers provide feedback, and code is merged only after approval. Code review catches bugs, enforces standards, and distributes knowledge.

Code review emerged because SQL errors are common and expensive. A SQL mistake in a production query might silently produce wrong results for weeks before discovery. Peer review catches many errors before deployment. Code review also ensures consistency: teams using review processes have more uniform code style, naming conventions, and architectural decisions. New team members learn standards by having code reviewed, and seniors learn fresh perspectives from reviewing others' work.

Effective code review requires establishing standards: what should reviewers look for? Common checks include: correctness (does the query produce the intended result?), performance (will it run fast?), readability (will others understand it?), style (matches team conventions?), and safety (handles edge cases?). Code review can be formal (required approvals before merge) or informal (recommendations that can be ignored). Most DataOps organizations make code review mandatory for production changes.