Learn CQL with Real Code Examples
Updated Nov 18, 2025
Learning Path
Learn Cassandra architecture and keyspace/table design
Understand primary and clustering keys
Master CQL queries and CRUD operations
Learn indexing, TTL, and lightweight transactions
Implement distributed applications with Cassandra
Skill Improvement Plan
Week 1: Basic CQL syntax and keyspace/table creation
Week 2: Data modeling for partitioning and clustering
Week 3: Indexes, TTL, and conditional updates
Week 4: Cluster deployment, scaling, and performance tuning
Interview Questions
Explain the difference between partition key and clustering key
What are lightweight transactions in Cassandra?
How does CQL differ from SQL?
How do you handle large partitions efficiently?
Describe replication strategies in Cassandra
Cheat Sheet
CREATE KEYSPACE/ TABLE, DROP TABLE
INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, SELECT
PRIMARY KEY (partition, clustering)
TTL for automatic expiry, IF EXISTS/IF NOT EXISTS
Books
Cassandra: The Definitive Guide
Mastering Apache Cassandra
Cassandra High Availability
Tutorials
Cassandra 101 by DataStax
CQL Basic and Advanced Tutorials
Time-Series Data with Cassandra
Official Docs
Apache Cassandra Documentation
Cassandra CQL Reference
DataStax CQL Docs
Community Links
Apache Cassandra mailing lists
StackOverflow Cassandra tag
Cassandra Summit community
Community Support
Apache Cassandra mailing lists
StackOverflow Cassandra tag
Cassandra Summit conference
DataStax community forums