Essential SQL Commands

Command Name Description ¹Example

Query Commands
SELECT Basic query building block to retrieve data. SELECT 1 FROM table_name;

SELECT * Using * with SELECT returns all columns. SELECT * FROM table_name;

SELECT column Specify exact columns with their name. SELECT column_name FROM table_name;

SELECT table.column Reference a column from a specific table. SELECT table_name.column_name FROM table_name, table_2_name;

FROM Specify where to find data. SELECT column_name FROM table_name;

SELECT new_table_name.*, column_name AS new_column FROM table_name AS
AS Temporarily alias a table name or column to a new name.
new_table_name;
WHERE Filter results with a condition. SELECT * FROM table_name WHERE column_name = 'value';
Use multiple conditions with a WHERE clause. Results must
AND SELECT * FROM table_name WHERE column_name < 10 AND column_name > 1;
match all conditions.
Use multiple conditions with a WHERE clause. Results only need
OR SELECT * FROM table_name WHERE column_name < 10 OR column_name = 15;
to match one condition.
Order the results by a column. The database chooses how to
ORDER BY SELECT * FROM table_name ORDER BY column_name;
order.
ORDER BY column ASC Order the results by a column in ascending order. SELECT * FROM table_name ORDER BY column_name ASC;

ORDER BY column DESC Order the results by a column in descending order. SELECT * FROM table_name ORDER BY column_name DESC;

LIMIT Restrict the number of results returned. SELECT * FROM table_name LIMIT 5;

OFFSET Skip the first OFFSET number of rows. Often used with LIMIT. SELECT * FROM table_name LIMIT 5 OFFSET 10;
SELECT column FROM table_name where column_name IN (SELECT
SUBQUERY Run a query to retrieve data for another query.
column_2_name FROM table_2_name);

Aggregate Functions²
COUNT Count the number of rows that match the query. SELECT COUNT(column_name) FROM table_name;

MAX Return the highest value in a numeric column. SELECT MAX(column_name) FROM table_name;

MIN Return the lowest value in a numeric column. SELECT MIN(column_name) FROM table_name;

SUM Sum the values of a numeric column. SELECT SUM(column_name) FROM table_name;

AVG Calculate the average value for a numeric column. SELECT AVG(column_name) FROM table_name;

HAVING Used with aggregate functions instead of the WHERE clause. SELECT COUNT(column_name) FROM table_name HAVING column_name > 10;

GROUP BY Used to refine an aggregate result. SELECT COUNT(column_name) FROM table_name GROUP BY column_2_name;

Operators
LIKE Case-sensitive search for a pattern with a wildcard operator (%). SELECT column_name FROM table_name WHERE column_name LIKE '%VALUE%';

ILIKE Case-insensitive search for a pattern with a wildcard operator (%). SELECT column_name FROM table_name WHERE column_name ILIKE '%value%';
Search for a value between two values. Works with dates or SELECT column_name FROM table_name WHERE column_name BETWEEN 1 AND
BETWEEN
numbers. 10;
> Search for values greater than a condition. SELECT column_name FROM table_name WHERE column_name > 10;

>= Search for values greater or equal to a condition. SELECT column_name FROM table_name WHERE column_name >= 10;

< Search for values less than a condition. SELECT column_name FROM table_name WHERE column_name < 10;

<= Search for values less than or equal to a condition. SELECT column_name FROM table_name WHERE column_name <= 10;

= Search for values matching a condition exactly. SELECT column_name FROM table_name where column_name = 10;

<> Search for values not equal to a condition. SELECT column_name FROM table_name WHERE column_name <> 10;

Combine two unique queries (with the same columns) into one SELECT column_name FROM table_name UNION SELECT column_2_name FROM
UNION
result. table_2_name;
Combine two queries (with the same columns) into one result. SELECT column_name FROM table_name UNION ALL SELECT column_2_name
UNION ALL
Duplicates allowed. FROM table_2_name;
IN Shorthand for WHERE. Specifies multiple OR conditions. SELECT column_name FROM table_name where column_name IN ('A', 'B', 'C');
Shorthand for WHERE. Specifies multiple OR conditions
NOT IN SELECT column_name FROM table_name where column_name NOT IN ('A', 'B', 'C');
(inverted) or not equal to.
IS NULL Check for empty values. SELECT column_name FROM table_name WHERE column_name IS NULL;

IS NOT NULL Check for no empty values. SELECT column_name FROM table_name WHERE column_name IS NOT NULL;
SELECT column_name FROM table_name INTERSECT SELECT column_2_name
INTERSECT Return results which match two queries.
FROM table_2_name;
SELECT column_name FROM table_name MINUS SELECT column_2_name FROM
MINUS ²Return results in one query which are not in another query.
table_2_name;

Copyright ©2020 MakeUseOf. For more cheat sheets, head over to www.makeuseof.com
Command Name Description Example

Joins
SELECT * FROM table_name LEFT OUTER JOIN table_2_name ON
ON Used to specify the column to compare and match results.
table_name.column_name = table_2_name.column_name;

Shorthand for ON, used when the column name is the same in SELECT * FROM table_name LEFT OUTER JOIN table_2_name ON
USING
both tables. table_name.column_name = table_2_name.column_2_name;

All the results from the left table, with only the matching results SELECT * FROM table_name LEFT OUTER JOIN table_2_name ON
LEFT OUTER JOIN
from the right table. table_name.column_name = table_2_name.column_2_name;
SELECT * FROM table_name LEFT OUTER JOIN table_2_name ON
LEFT OUTER JOIN (WITH (With null) All the results from the left table but not in the right
table_name.column_name = table_2_name.column_2_name WHERE
NULL) table.
table_2_name.column_2_name IS NULL;
SELECT * FROM table_name INNER JOIN table_2_name ON
INNER JOIN All the results that match in both the left and right tables.
table_name.column_name = table_2_name.column_2_name;

SELECT * FROM table_name FULL OUTER JOIN table_2_name ON

FULL OUTER JOIN All the results from both the left and right tables.
table_name.column_name = table_2_name.column_2_name;
SELECT * FROM table_name FULL OUTER JOIN table_2_name ON
FULL OUTER JOIN (WITH (With null) All the results from both the left and right tables
table_name.column_name = table_2_name.column_2_name WHERE
NULL) excluding results in both tables.
table_name.column_name IS NULL OR table_2_name.column_2_name IS NULL;
All the results from the right table, with only the matching results SELECT * FROM table_2_name RIGHT OUTER JOIN table_name ON
RIGHT OUTER JOIN
from the left table. table_2_name.column_2_name = table_name.column_name;
SELECT * FROM table_2_name RIGHT OUTER JOIN table_name ON
RIGHT OUTER JOIN (WITH (With null) All the results from the right table but not in the left
table_2_name.column_2_name = table1.column_name WHERE
NULL) table.
table_name.column_name IS NULL;

Creating and Editing Tables

CREATE TABLE Create a new table. CREATE TABLE table_name (column_name datatype column_2_name datatype);

NULL Allow empty values for this field. CREATE TABLE table_name (column_name column_name datatype NULL);

NOT NULL Don't allow empty values for this field. CREATE TABLE table_name (column_name column_name datatype NOT NULL);

DEFAULT A value to populate the field with if one is not supplied. CREATE TABLE table_name (column_name datatype DEFAULT 'makeuseof');
Create a new table based on the structure of an existing table.
AS CREATE TABLE table_2_name AS SELECT * FROM table_name;
The new table will contain the data from the old table.
ALTER TABLE (ADD
Add a new column to an existing table. ALTER TABLE table_name ADD COLUMN column_2_name datatype;
COLUMN)
ALTER TABLE (DROP
Remove a column from an existing table. ALTER TABLE table_name DROP COLUMN column_2_name;
COLUMN)
ALTER TABLE (ALTER
Change the datatype of an existing column. ALTER TABLE table_2_name ALTER COLUMN column_name datatype;
COLUMN)
ALTER TABLE (RENAME ALTER TABLE table_name RENAME COLUMN column_name TO
Rename an existing column.
COLUMN) new_column_name datatype;
ALTER TABLE (RENAME
Rename an existing table. RENAME TABLE table_name TO new_table_name;
TABLE)
ALTER TABLE (MODIFY
Allow null values for a column. ALTER TABLE table_name MODIFY column_name datatype NULL;
NULL)
ALTER TABLE (MODIFY NOT
Prevent null values for a column. ALTER TABLE table_name MODIFY column_name datatype NOT NULL;
NULL)
DROP TABLE Delete a table and all its data. DROP TABLE table_name;

TRUNCATE TABLE Delete all the data in a table, but not the table itself. TRUNCATE TABLE table_name;

Constraints
A value that uniquely identifies a record in a table. A combination CREATE TABLE table_name (column_name datatype column_2_name datatype,
PRIMARY KEY
of NOT NULL and UNIQUE. PRIMARY KEY (column_name, column_2_name));

References a unique value in another table. Often a primary key in CREATE TABLE table_name (column_name datatype column_2_name datatype,
FOREIGN KEY
the other table. FOREIGN KEY (column_name) REFERENCES table_2_name (column_2_name));

CREATE TABLE table_name (column_name datatype column_2_name datatype,

UNIQUE Enforce unique values for this column per table.
UNIQUE(column_name, column_2_name));

CREATE TABLE table_name (column_name datatype column_2_name datatype,

CHECK Ensure values meet a specific condition.
CHECK(column_name > 10));

Optimize tables and greatly speed up queries by adding an index

INDEX (CREATE) CREATE INDEX index_name ON table_name(column_name);
to a column.

INDEX (CREATE UNIQUE) Create an index that does not allow duplicate values. CREATE UNIQUE INDEX index_name ON table_name(column_name);

INDEX (DROP) Remove an index. DROP INDEX index_name;

Copyright ©2020 MakeUseOf. For more cheat sheets, head over to www.makeuseof.com
Command Name Description Example

Creating and Editing Data

INSERT (SINGLE VALUE) Add a new record to a table. INSERT INTO table_name(column_name) VALUES(value_1);

INSERT (MULTIPLE VALUES) Add several new records to a table. INSERT INTO table_name(column_name) VALUES(value_1),(value_2);

INSERT (SELECT) Add records to a table, but get the values from an existing table. INSERT INTO table_name(column_name) SELECT * FROM table_2_name;

UPDATE (ALL) Modify all existing records in a table. UPDATE table_name SET column_name = 10;

UPDATE (WHERE) Modify existing records in a table which match a condition. UPDATE table_name SET column_name = 10 WHERE column_2_name = 5;

DELETE (ALL) Remove all records from a table. DELETE FROM table_name;

DELETE (WHERE) Remove records from a table which match a condition. DELETE FROM table_name WHERE column_name = 5;

²Creating and Editing Triggers

CREATE TRIGGER trigger_name BEFORE INSERT ON table_name FOR EACH ROW
CREATE TRIGGER Create a trigger.
EXECUTE stored_procedure;

CREATE TRIGGER (OR Create a trigger, or update an existing trigger if one is found with CREATE OR MODIFY TRIGGER trigger_name BEFORE INSERT ON table_name FOR
MODIFY) the same name. EACH ROW EXECUTE stored_procedure;

CREATE TRIGGER trigger_name BEFORE INSERT ON table_name FOR EACH ROW

WHEN (BEFORE) Run the trigger before the event happens.
EXECUTE stored_procedure;

CREATE TRIGGER trigger_name AFTER INSERT ON table_name FOR EACH ROW

WHEN (AFTER) Run the trigger after the event happens.
EXECUTE stored_procedure;

CREATE TRIGGER trigger_name BEFORE INSERT ON table_name FOR EACH ROW

EVENT (INSERT) Run the trigger before or after an insert happens.
EXECUTE stored_procedure;

CREATE TRIGGER trigger_name BEFORE UPDATE ON table_name FOR EACH

EVENT (UPDATE) Run the trigger before or after an update happens.
ROW EXECUTE stored_procedure;

CREATE TRIGGER trigger_name BEFORE DELETE ON table_name FOR EACH

EVENT (DELETE) Run the trigger before or after a delete happens.
ROW EXECUTE stored_procedure;

CREATE TRIGGER trigger_name BEFORE INSERT ON table_name FOR EACH ROW

ON Specify which table to target with this trigger.
EXECUTE stored_procedure;

TRIGGER_TYPE (FOR EACH CREATE TRIGGER trigger_name BEFORE INSERT ON table_name FOR EACH ROW
Execute the trigger for every row changed.
ROW) EXECUTE stored_procedure;

TRIGGER_TYPE (FOR EACH Execute the trigger once per SQL statement, regardless of how CREATE TRIGGER trigger_name BEFORE INSERT ON table_name FOR EACH ROW
STATEMENT) many rows are altered. STATEMENT stored_procedure;

CREATE TRIGGER trigger_name BEFORE INSERT ON table_name FOR EACH ROW

EXECUTE Keyword to indicate the end of the main trigger definition.
EXECUTE stored_procedure;
DROP TRIGGER Delete a trigger. DROP TRIGGER trigger_name;

Creating and Editing Views

CREATE VIEW Create a new view. CREATE VIEW view_name(column_name) AS SELECT * FROM table_name;

AS Define where to retrieve the data for a view. CREATE VIEW view_name(column_name) AS SELECT * FROM table_name;

WITH CASCADED CHECK Ensure any data modified through a view meets the rules defined CREATE VIEW view_name(column_name) AS SELECT * FROM table_name WITH
OPTION by the rule. Apply this to any other views. CASCADED CHECK OPTION;

Ensure any data modified through a view meets the rules defined CREATE VIEW view_name(column_name) AS SELECT * FROM table_name WITH
WITH LOCAL CHECK OPTION
by the rule. Ignore this for any other views. LOCAL CHECK OPTION;

Create a recursive view (one that refers to a recursive common CREATE RECURSIVE VIEW view_name(column_name) AS SELECT * FROM
CREATE RECURSIVE VIEW
table expression). table_name;

CREATE TEMPORARY VIEW view_name(column_name) AS SELECT * FROM

CREATE TEMPORARY VIEW Create a view that exists for the current session only.
table_name;
DROP VIEW Delete a view. DROP VIEW view_name;

²Common Table Expressions (CTEs)

WITH cte_name (column_name) AS (SELECT * FROM table_name) SELECT * FROM
WITH Create a new common table expression.
cte_name;

WITH cte_name (column_name) AS (SELECT * FROM table_name) SELECT * FROM

AS Specify the data to use in the CTE.
cte_name;

WITH cte_name (column_name) AS (SELECT * FROM table_name), cte_2_name

, (COMMA) Chain multiple CTEs.
(column_2_name) AS (SELECT * FROM table_2_name) SELECT * FROM cte_name;

¹Examples given in MySQL syntax.

²Database engine implementations and support often vary.

Copyright ©2020 MakeUseOf. For more cheat sheets, head over to www.makeuseof.com