INSERT SQL

What is INSERT INTO SQL?

INSERT INTO SQL is a command used to add new records to a database table.When utilizing this command, it is essential to specify both the table into which data will be inserted and the values for the respective columns.For instance, if you want to add a new customer to a customer table, the INSERT INTO command would look like this:

INSERT INTO Customers (CustomerName, ContactName, Country)VALUES ('Cardinal', 'Tom B. Erich', 'Norway');

The SQL INSERT Statement Explained

The INSERT statement is a fundamental part of SQL, allowing database users to effectively manage data. There are several variations of the INSERT statement:

• Basic INSERT: Inserts a single record into a table.
• INSERT with SELECT: Inserts records from one table into another.
• INSERT ALL: Inserts multiple records in a single statement.
• INSERT INTO VALUES: Specifies explicitly the values to insert.

INSERT INTO Products (ProductName, Price)VALUES ('Banana', 1.20);

INSERT INTO Products (ProductName, Price)SELECT ProductName, Price FROM OldProducts;

INSERT ALLINTO Products (ProductName, Price)VALUES ('Mango', 1.50)INTO Products (ProductName, Price)VALUES ('Kiwi', 2.00);

INSERT INTO Products (ProductName)VALUES ('Pineapple');

BEGIN TRANSACTION;INSERT INTO Products (ProductName, Price)VALUES ('Peach', 1.80);INSERT INTO Products (ProductName, Price)VALUES ('Apple', 0.50);COMMIT;

Using the INSERT Command in SQL

How to Execute an Insert Query in SQL

To effectively execute an INSERT query in SQL, the following syntax is typically used:

INSERT INTO table_name (column1, column2, column3)VALUES (value1, value2, value3);

• Identify the table to be updated.
• Determine which columns will have new data.
• Specify the values for those columns.
• Execute the command using a database management system.

INSERT INTO Employees (FirstName, LastName, Age)VALUES ('John', 'Doe', 30);

Common INSERT SQL Examples

There are several common use cases for the INSERT SQL command that can simplify managing data. Here are a few examples:

• Basic Insert: Adds a single row into a table. Example:

  INSERT INTO Books (Title, Author)VALUES ('1984', 'George Orwell');

• Insert Multiple Rows: Allows for adding several rows at once. Example:

  INSERT INTO Books (Title, Author)VALUES ('Brave New World', 'Aldous Huxley'),('Fahrenheit 451', 'Ray Bradbury');

• Insert Using SELECT: Copies data from one table to another. Example:

  INSERT INTO NewBooks (Title, Author)SELECT Title, Author FROM OldBooks;

BEGIN TRANSACTION;INSERT INTO Customers (Name, City)VALUES ('John Doe', 'New York');INSERT INTO Orders (CustomerID, Amount)VALUES (1, 50.00);COMMIT;

Best Practices for INSERT INTO Table SQL

Structuring Your Insert Command in SQL

The structure of the INSERT INTO command is crucial for successfully adding records to a database table. When using this command, adhere to the following guidelines to ensure efficiency and minimize errors:

• Always specify the table name and the columns being inserted to.
• Ensure the values being inserted match the data types of the columns.
• Order of values should correspond with the order of columns specified.
• Use NULL for optional fields if no value is needed.
• Utilize leveraging single quotes around string values and no quotes for numeric values.

INSERT INTO Employees (FirstName, LastName, Age, Salary)VALUES ('Jane', 'Doe', 28, 50000);

BEGIN TRYINSERT INTO Employees (FirstName, LastName, Age)VALUES ('Peter', 'Parker', 'thirty');END TRYBEGIN CATCHPRINT 'Error occurred during insert.';END CATCH;