SQL BASICS

SQL SELECT Syntax

 
SELECT <columnlist>
FROM <tablename>
 

SQL WHERE Clause Syntax

 
<main-statement>
WHERE <conditions>
 

Each condition tests column(s) using comparison operator(s). The following basic

comparison operators are supported:

Operator Description
= Equal
<> Not Equal
> Greater Than
< Less Than
>= Greater Than Or Equal
<= Less Than Or Equal

The comparison may involve literal value(s) that are constants like:

 10
 'Minnesota'
 -5006.3

Alphanumeric literals are enclosed in single quotes ('XXX').

SQL INSERT Syntax

 
INSERT INTO <table_name> ( <column_list> )
VALUES (<value_list>)
 

SQL UPDATE Syntax

 
UPDATE <table_name>
SET <column_name> = <column_value>
WHERE <where_conditions>
 

SQL DELETE Syntax

 
DELETE FROM <table_name>
WHERE <where_conditions>

1
 

SQL ADMINISTRATION

SQL CREATE DATABASE Syntax

 
CREATE DATABASE <database_name>
 

SQL DROP DATABASE Syntax

 
DROP DATABASE <database_name>
 

SQL CREATE TABLE 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
date A date in yyyymmdd format

SQL ALTER TABLE Syntax

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

2
ALTER TABLE <table_name> 
DROP COLUMN <column_name1> <datatype1>
 
 

SQL DROP TABLE Syntax

 
DROP <table_name> ( <column_list>
 

SQL CREATE INDEX 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 DROP INDEX Syntax

 
DROP INDEX <table_name>.<index_name>
 

SQL ADD FOREIGN KEY Syntax

 
ALTER TABLE <table_name>
ADD <constraint_name> FOREIGN KEY 
(<column_name1> ,
<column_name2> )
REFERENCES <table_name>
(<column_name1> ,
<column_name2>)
 

The number of characters that can make up SQL names for tables, columns and foreign keys
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 foreign key can not
duplicate the name of an existing foreign key for the database and should not be the same as a
SQL reserved word. To make the foreign key unique it is common practice to include the table
and column name as part of the foreign key name. The underscore character can be used to
improve readability. List elements are seperated by commas.

SQL DROP FOREIGN KEY Syntax

3
 
ALTER TABLE <table_name>
DROP FOREIGN KEY <foreignkey_name>
 

SQL CREATE VIEW 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 DROP VIEW Syntax

 
DROP VIEW <view_name>.<
 

SQL ADVANCED

SQL CONCAT Syntax

 
<value_1> + <value_2>
 

The means of achieving concatenation differs by database type. for example:

 MySQL uses the CONCAT() function

 Oracle uses the CONCAT() function and the || operator
 SQL Server uses the + operator

SQL SUBSTRING Syntax

 
SELECT SUBSTRING(<column_name>, position, length)
FROM <table_name>
 

SQL TRIM Syntax

 
SELECT LTRIM(<value_1>)
 
 
SELECT RTRIM(<value_1>)

4
 

SQL AND & OR Syntax

 
SELECT <column_list>
FROM <table_name>
WHERE <condition_1>
AND|OR <condition_2>
 

SQL IN Syntax
 
SELECT <column_list>
FROM <table_name>
WHERE <column_name IN (value_list)>
 

There must be one or more members of the value_list. Numeric and non-numeric values are
supported.

SQL BETWEEN Syntax

 
SELECT <column_list>
FROM <table_name>
WHERE <column_name> BETWEEN 
<lower_value> AND <higher_value>
 

SQL LIKE Syntax

 
SELECT <column_list>
FROM <table_name>
WHERE <column_name> LIKE <like_condition>
 

The <like_condition> supports the following patterns:

 'ABC%' - where a string begins with the letters 'ABC'

 '%XYZ' - where a string ends with the 'XYZ'
 '%TUV%' - where the string contais 'TUV' anywhere

SQL DISTINCT Syntax

 
SELECT DISTINCT <column_name>
FROM <table_name>
 

The word DISTINCT can be placed in front of a single column name or a number of column
names. When in front of multiple column names, a distinct combination is returned.

SQL GROUP BY Syntax

5
 
SELECT <column_name1>, <column_name2> <aggregate_function>

FROM <table_name>
GROUP BY <column_name1>, <column_name2>
 

The GROUP BY clause must follow the FROM and WHERE clauses. The columns in a SELECT
clause must be either group by columns or aggregate function columns.

SQL Aggregate Functions Syntax

 
SELECT <column_name1>, <column_name2> <aggregate_function(s)>
FROM <table_name>
GROUP BY <column_name1>, <column_name2>
 

The SQL Aggregate Functions are functions that provide mathematical operations. The functions
include:

 count() - counts a number of rows

 sum() - compute sum
 avg() - compute average
 min() - compute minimum
 max() - compute maximum

SQL HAVING Syntax

 
SELECT <column_name1>, <column_name2> <aggregate_function>
FROM <table_name>
GROUP BY <column_name1>, <column_name2>
HAVING <having_condition>
 

The <having_condition> may include Aggregate Function(s).

SQL ORDER BY Syntax

 
SELECT <column_name1>, <column_name2> 
FROM <table_name>
ORDER BY <column_name1>[ASC|DESC], <column_name2>[ASC|DESC]
 

Multiple columns can be included in the ORDER BY clause. The direction of the sort is controlled
by:

 ASC - ascending sequence

 DESC - descending sequence

SQL JOIN Syntax

 
SELECT <column_name1>, <column_name2> <aggregate_function>

6
FROM <table_name>
JOIN <table_name> ON <join_conditions>
 

SQL OUTER JOIN Syntax

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