What is the SQL SELECT Statement?

The SQL SELECT statement is the SQL command that retrieves data from an SQL database. This operation is also known as a query and is the key to the use of SQL for analysis and reporting. This tutorial section shows the basic SQL SELECT statement so see the SQL Advanced tutorial section for more in depth knowledge.

Why Use the SQL SELECT Statement?

Anytime you want to retrieve information from a SQL database use the SQL SELECT statement to request the information.

How To Use the SQL SELECT Statement

The SQL SELECT command is used as follows. The asterisk can be used to SELECT all columns of a table. SQL SELECT Statement Syntax

SELECT <columnlist> FROM <tablename>

SQL SELECT Statement Example 1 The following example retrieves the columns product_nbr and product_name from all rows of the product table.

SELECT product_nbr, product_name FROM product

Results from the execution of the SQL SELECT statement, also known as a query are as follows: product_nbr product_name 1001 SQL Tool 1.0 2001 SQL Tool 2.0 Light 2002 SQL Tool 2.0 Professional 2003 SQL Tool 2.0 Enterprise SQL SELECT Statement Example 2 The following example retrieves all of the columns from all rows of the product table.

SELECT * FROM product

Results show the product_status_code column that was not present in Example 1. product_nbr product_name product_status_code 1001 SQL Tool 1.0 Inactive 2001 SQL Tool 2.0 Light Active 2002 SQL Tool 2.0 Professional Active 2003 SQL Tool 2.0 Enterprise Active

How To Use the SQL CREATE DATABASE Statement

The SQL CREATE DATABASE statement is used as follows. SQL CREATE DATABASE Statement Syntax

CREATE DATABASE <database_name>

SQL CREATE DATABASE Statement Example The following example creates a new database named CUSTOMER_DB.

CREATE DATABASE customer_db

What is the SQL CREATE INDEX Statement?

The SQL INDEX TABLE statement is the SQL command that adds a new index to an existing table to an SQL database. Indexed enable faster and more efficient retrieval of information from SQL databases.

Why Use the SQL CREATE INDEX Statement?

SQL indexes are used because they can provide the following benefits / functions: Rapid access of information Efficient access of information Enforcement of uniqueness constraints

Correct use of indexes can make the difference between a top performing database with high customer satisfaction and a non-performing database with low customer satisfaction.

How To Use the SQL CREATE INDEX Statement

The SQL CREATE INDEX command is used as follows.

SQL CREATE INDEX Statement Syntax

CREATE INDEX <index_type> <index_name> ON <table_name> ( <column_name1> <index_order>, <column_name2> <index_order>, )

CREATE UNIQUE INDEX <index_type> <index_name> ON <table_name> ( <column_name1> <index_order>, <column_name2> <index_order>, )

The number of characters that can make up SQL names for tables, columns and indexes varies by DBMS. In many cases the limit is 30 characters. The leading character of the name must be alphabetic not a number or special character. The name of a new index can not duplicate the name of an existing index for the same table and should not be the same as a SQL reserved word. The underscore character can be used to improve readability. List elements are seperated by commas. SQL CREATE INDEX Statement Example 1 - Rapid Access The following example creates an non-unique index named IDX_PERSON_NAME on table PERSON with columns named person_name and gender_code in ascending sequence.. Here are the contents of the table: Column Name person_id person_name Datatype INT Nullability NOT NULL

VARCHAR(20) NOT NULL NULL NULL

social_security_nbr CHAR(9) gender_code line_1_addr city_name state_code zip_code CHAR(1)

VARCHAR(50) NULL VARCHAR(50) NOT NULL CHAR(2) CHAR(9) NOT NULL NOT NULL

This SQL CREATE VIEW Statement is executed:

CREATE INDEX IDX_PERSON_NAME ON PERSON

CREATE INDEX IDX_PERSON_NAME ON PERSON

SQL CREATE INDEX Statement Example 2 - Enforce Uniqueness The following example creates a unique index named IDX_PERSON_SSN on table PERSON with the column named social_security_nnbr. This assures that two rows can not be added to the PERSON table with the same social security number. This SQL CREATE TABLE Statement is executed:

CREATE INDEX IDX_PERSON_NAME ON PERSON

What is the SQL CREATE TABLE Statement?

The SQL CREATE TABLE statement is the SQL command that adds a new table to an SQL database. Tables are a basic unit of organization and storage of data in SQL. Each table tends to represent an entity such as a customer, product, code or event. A table is similar to a file in a non-database system. Tables are organized into rows and columns. For example, a customer table would likely have a seperate row for each customer. Columns are attributes that describe a row. For example, a row in a customer table would have columns like customer_name, customer_nbr, account_balance_amt and established_date.

Why Use the SQL CREATE TABLE Statement?

Anytime you want to add a new table to the database you would use the SQL CREATE TABLE statement.

How To Use the SQL CREATE TABLE Statement

The SQL CREATE TABLE command is used as follows. SQL CREATE TABLE Statement Syntax

CREATE TABLE <table_name> ( <column_name1> <datatype1> <constraint1> <column_name2> <datatype2> <constraint2> <constraint-list> ) The number of characters that can make up SQL table names and column names varies by DBMS. In many cases the limit is 30 characters. The leading character of the name must be alphabetic - not a

number or special character. The name of a new table can not duplicate the name of an existing table and should not be the same as a SQL reserved word. The underscore character can be used to improve readability. The same column name can not be repeated within a table. List elements are seperated by commas. Here are some example datatypes: SQL Datatype Description integer(size) int(size) Integers smallint(size) tinyint(size) decimal(size,decimals) Numbers with decimals numeric(size,decimals) char(size) Fixed length character string varchar(size) Variable length character string A date in yyyymmdd format date SQL CREATE TABLE Statement Example The following example creates a table named product with columns named product_nbr, product_name, product_status_code, start_date, end_date andraw_material_c ost_amt. This SQL CREATE TABLE Statement is executed:

CREATE TABLE product ( product_nbr int NOT NULL, product_name varchar(40) NOT NULL, product_status_code char(10) NOT NULL, start_date date NULL, end_date date NULL, raw_material_cost decimal(12,2) NULL, primary key (product_nbr) )

What is the SQL CREATE VIEW Statement?

A SQL view is a virtual table and the SQL CRERATE VIEW statement is the SQL command that adds a new view to a SQL database. A view can be accessed using the SQL SELECT statement like a table. A view is built by selecting data from one or more tables. Some views can also support the SQL INSERT, SQL UPDATE and SQL DELETE statements. In that case, the view must refer to a single table and include all NOT NULL columns of that table.

Why Use the SQL CREATE VIEW Statement?

SQL views are used because they can provide the following benefits / functions:

Database queries are simplified Database complexity is hidden Flexibility is increased - queries of views may not change when underlying tables chagne Security is increased - sensitive information can be excluded from a view

How To Use the SQL CREATE VIEW Statement

The SQL CREATE VIEW command is used as follows. SQL CREATE VIEW Statement Syntax

CREATE VIEW <view_name> ( <column_name1>, <column_name2> ) AS <sql_select_statement>

The number of characters that can make up SQL names for tables, columns and views varies by DBMS. In many cases the limit is 30 characters. The leading character of the name must be alphabetic - not a number or special character. The name of a new view can not duplicate the name of an existing view or table and should not be the same as a SQL reserved word. The underscore character can be used to improve readability. List elements are seperated by commas. SQL CREATE VIEW Statement Example - Data Filtering The following example creates a view named V_TOP_CUSTOMER on table CUSTOMER with the following columns: customer_id customer_name ytd_sales_amt zip_code

Here are the contents of the table: Column Name Datatype Nullability customer_id INT NOT NULL customer_name VARCHAR(20) NOT NULL ytd_sales_amt MONEY NOT NULL line_1_addr VARCHAR(50) NULL city_name VARCHAR(50) NOT NULL state_code CHAR(2) NOT NULL zip_code CHAR(9) NOT NULL This SQL CREATE VIEW Statement is executed:

CREATE VIEW V_TOP_CUSTOMER ( customer_id,

customer_name, ytd_sales_amt, zip_code) AS SELECT customer_id, customer_name, ytd_sales_amt, zip_code FROM CUSTOMER WHERE ytd_sales_amt > 1200.00

What is the SQL ALTER TABLE Statement?

The SQL ALTER TABLE statement is the SQL command that makes changes to the definition of an SQL table.

Why Use the SQL ALTER TABLE Statement?

Anytime you want to change the definition of an SQL table. For example, you could: Add a column to a table Change the definition of an existing column in a table Drop a column from a table

How To Use the SQL ALTER TABLE Statement

The SQL ALTER TABLE command is used as follows. SQL ALTER TABLE Statement Syntax

ALTER TABLE <table_name> ADD <column_name1> <datatype1> <constraint1>

ALTER TABLE <table_name> ALTER COLUMN <column_name1> <datatype1> <constraint1>

ALTER TABLE <table_name> DROP COLUMN <column_name1> <datatype1>

SQL ALTER TABLE Statement Example 1 - Add a Column The following example adds a new column into the person table. Before the operation takes place the following columns exists in the table: Column Name Datatype Nullability person_id INT NOT NULL person_name VARCHAR(20) NOT NULL

gender_code line_1_addr line_2_addr apartment_nbr city_name state_code zip_code

CHAR(1) NULL VARCHAR(50) NULL VARCHAR(50) NULL VARCHAR(50) NULL VARCHAR(50) NOT NULL CHAR(2) NOT NULL CHAR(9) NOT NULL

This ALTER TABLE Statement is executed:

ALTER TABLE PERSON ADD marital_status_code CHAR(1) NULL

Results from the execution of the SQL ALTER TABLE statement are: Column Name Datatype Nullability person_id INT NOT NULL person_name VARCHAR(20) NOT NULL gender_code CHAR(1) NULL line_1_addr VARCHAR(50) NULL line_2_addr VARCHAR(50) NULL apartment_nbr VARCHAR(50) NULL city_name VARCHAR(50) NOT NULL state_code CHAR(2) NOT NULL zip_code CHAR(9) NOT NULL marital_status_code CHAR(1) NULL SQL ALTER TABLE Statement Example 2 - Alter a Column Datatype The following example changes the datatype of an existing column in the person table. Before the operation takes place the following columns exists in the table: Column Name Datatype Nullability person_id INT NOT NULL person_name VARCHAR(20) NOT NULL gender_code CHAR(1) NULL line_1_addr VARCHAR(50) NULL line_2_addr VARCHAR(50) NULL apartment_nbr VARCHAR(50) NULL city_name VARCHAR(50) NOT NULL state_code CHAR(2) NOT NULL zip_code CHAR(9) NOT NULL This ALTER TABLE Statement is executed:

ALTER TABLE PERSON ALTER COLUMN person_name VARCHAR(50) NOT NULL

Results from the execution of the SQL ALTER TABLE statement are: Column Name Datatype Nullability person_id INT NOT NULL VARCHAR(50) NOT NULL person_name gender_code CHAR(1) NULL line_1_addr VARCHAR(50) NULL line_2_addr VARCHAR(50) NULL apartment_nbr VARCHAR(50) NULL city_name VARCHAR(50) NOT NULL state_code CHAR(2) NOT NULL zip_code CHAR(9) NOT NULL marital_status_code CHAR(1) NULL SQL ALTER TABLE Statement Example 3 - Drop a column The following example removes an existing column in the person table. Before the operation takes place the following columns exists in the table: Column Name Datatype Nullability person_id INT NOT NULL person_name VARCHAR(50) NOT NULL gender_code CHAR(1) NULL line_1_addr VARCHAR(50) NULL line_2_addr VARCHAR(50) NULL apartment_nbr VARCHAR(50) NULL city_name VARCHAR(50) NOT NULL state_code CHAR(2) NOT NULL zip_code CHAR(9) NOT NULL This ALTER TABLE Statement is executed:

ALTER TABLE dbo.PERSON DROP COLUMN apartment_nbr

Results from the execution of the SQL ALTER TABLE statement are: Column Name Datatype Nullability person_id INT NOT NULL person_name VARCHAR(50) NOT NULL gender_code CHAR(1) NULL line_1_addr VARCHAR(50) NULL line_2_addr VARCHAR(50) NULL city_name VARCHAR(50) NOT NULL state_code CHAR(2) NOT NULL zip_code CHAR(9) NOT NULL

What is SQL JOIN?

The SQL JOIN is a clause that enables a SELECT statement to access more than one table. The JOIN clause controls how tables are linked. It is a qualifier of the SQL FROM clause. The standard JOIN clause (also known as the INNER JOIN clause) differs from the OUTER JOIN in that rows are returned only when there are matches for the JOIN critieria on the second table.

Why Use SQL JOIN?

Use the SQL JOIN whenever multiple tables must be accessed through a SQL SELECT statement and no results should be returned if there is not a match between the JOINed tables.

How To Use SQL JOIN

SQL JOIN is used as follows. The ON clause describes the conditions of the JOIN. Important! A "cartesian product" can result if there is no relating the tables for the join. A row would be included for each combination between the two tables so if one table has 1,000 rows and the second table has 2,000 rows then 2,000,000 rows would be returned. Important! If there are no matches on the JOIN criteria then no rows will be returned. This is known an "INNER JOIN". Use the "OUTER JOIN" in cases where rows should be returned when one side of the join is missing. SQL JOIN Syntax

SELECT <column_name1>, <column_name2> <aggregate_function> FROM <table_name> JOIN <table_name> ON <join_conditions>

SQL JOIN Example The following example JOINs the region and branch tables on the region_nbr column. Here are the contents of the tables: Table: REGION region_nbr region_name 100 East Region 200 Central Region 300 Virtual Region 400 West Region Table: BRANCH

branch_nbr branch_name region_nbr employee_count 108 New York 100 10 110 Boston 100 6 212 Chicago 200 5 404 San Diego 400 6 415 San Jose 400 3 This SQL Statement with JOIN is executed:

SELECT region.region_nbr, region.region_name, branch.branch_nbr, branch.branch_name FROM dbo.region JOIN dbo.branch ON branch.region_nbr = region.region_nbr ORDER BY region.region_nbr

Here is the result. Note that the "Virtual Region" is included in the results even though it has no rows in the branch table. This is the difference between the INNER JOIN and OUTER JOIN. region_nbr region_name branch_nbr branch_name 100 East Region 108 New York 100 East Region 110 Boston 200 Central Region 212 Chicago 400 West Region 404 San Diego 400 West Region 415 San Jose

What is SQL OUTER JOIN?

The SQL OUTER JOIN clause is a variation of the SQL JOIN clause enables a SELECT statement to access more than one table. The JOIN clause controls how tables are linked. It is a qualifier of the SQL FROM clause. The OUTER JOIN clause differs from the standard JOIN clause (also known as the INNER JOIN clause) in that rows are returned even when there are no matches through the JOIN critieria on the second table.

Why Use SQL OUTER JOIN?

Use the SQL OUTER JOIN whenever multiple tables must be accessed through a SQL SELECT statement and results should be returned if there is not a match between the JOINed tables. It can be useful when there is a need to merge data from two tables and to include all rows from both tables without depending on a match. Another use is to generate a large result set for testing purposes.

How To Use SQL OUTER JOIN

SQL OUTER JOIN is used as follows. The ON clause describes the conditions of the JOIN.

Important! A "cartesian product" can result if there is no relating the tables for the join. A row would be included for each combination between the two tables so if one table has 1,000 rows and the second table has 2,000 rows then 2,000,000 rows would be returned. Important! If there are matches on the JOIN criteria then rows will still be returned. This is known an "OUTER JOIN". Use the "INNER JOIN" in cases where no rows should be returned when one side of the join is missing. SQL OUTER JOIN Syntax

SELECT <column_name1>, <column_name2> <aggregate_function> FROM <table_name> LEFT OUTER JOIN <table_name> ON <join_conditions>

SQL OUTER JOIN Example The following example JOINs the region and branch tables on the region_nbr column. Here are the contents of the tables: Table: REGION region_nbr region_name 100 East Region 200 Central Region 300 Virtual Region 400 West Region Table: BRANCH branch_nbr branch_name region_nbr employee_count 108 New York 100 10 110 Boston 100 6 212 Chicago 200 5 404 San Diego 400 6 415 San Jose 400 3 This SQL Statement with OUTER JOIN is executed:

SELECT region.region_nbr, region.region_name, branch.branch_nbr, branch.branch_name FROM dbo.region LEFT OUTER JOIN dbo.branch ON branch.region_nbr = region.region_nbr ORDER BY region.region_nbr

Here is the result. Note that the "Virtual Region" is included in the results even though it has no rows in the branch table. This is the difference between the INNER JOIN and OUTER JOIN.

region_nbr region_name branch_nbr branch_name 100 East Region 108 New York 100 East Region 110 Boston 200 Central Region 212 Chicago 300 Virtual Region NULL NULL 400 West Region 404 San Diego 400 West Region 415 San Jose