Full Stack
Web Programming
SQL Commands: Part 1
Lesson 7
Lesson outline
● Introduction
● DDL – Data Definition Language
● DQl – Data Query Language
● DML – Data Manipulation Language
● DCL – Data Control Language
Introduction
● Structured Query Language(SQL) as we all know is the database language
by the use of which we can perform certain operations on the existing
database and also we can use this language to create a database. SQL
uses certain commands like Create, Drop, Insert etc. to carry out the
required tasks.
These SQL commands are mainly categorized into four categories as:
● DDL – Data Definition Language
● DQl – Data Query Language
● DML – Data Manipulation Language
● DCL – Data Control Language
Though many resources claim there to be another category of SQL clauses TCL
– Transaction Control Language. So we will see in detail about TCL as well.
Introduction
Data Definition Language (DDL)
DDL(Data Definition Language) : DDL or Data Definition Language actually
consists of the SQL commands that can be used to define the database
schema. It simply deals with descriptions of the database schema and is used
to create and modify the structure of database objects in the database.
Data Definition Language (DDL)
Examples of DDL commands:
CREATE – is used to create the database or its objects (like table, index,
function, views, store procedure and triggers).
DROP – is used to delete objects from the database.
ALTER - is used to alter the structure of the database.
TRUNCATE – is used to remove all records from a table, including all spaces
allocated for the records are removed.
COMMENT – is used to add comments to the data dictionary.
DDL - SQL: CREATE
There are two CREATE statements available in SQL:
CREATE DATABASE
CREATE TABLE
CREATE DATABASE
A Database is defined as a structured set of data. So, in SQL the very first step
to store the data in a well structured manner is to create a database. The
CREATE DATABASE statement is used to create a new database in SQL.
Syntax:
DDL - SQL: CREATE
Example Query:
This query will create a new database in SQL and name the database as
my_database.
DDL - SQL: CREATE
CREATE TABLE
We have learned above about creating databases. Now to store the data we
need a table to do that. The CREATE TABLE statement is used to create a table
in SQL. We know that a table comprises of rows and columns. So while
creating tables we have to provide all the information to SQL about the names
of the columns, type of data to be stored in columns, size of the data etc. Let
us now dive into details on how to use CREATE TABLE statement to create
tables in SQL.
DDL - SQL: CREATE
DDL - SQL: CREATE
Example Query:
This query will create a table named Students with three columns, ROLL_NO,
NAME and SUBJECT.
This query will create a table named Students. The ROLL_NO field is of type int
and can store an integer number of size 3. The next two columns NAME and
SUBJECT are of type varchar and can store characters and the size 20 specifies
DDL - SQL: DROP, TRUNCATE
DROP
DROP is used to delete a whole database or just a table.The DROP statement
destroys the objects like an existing database, table, index, or view.
A DROP statement in SQL removes a component from a relational database
management system (RDBMS).
Syntax:
DDL - SQL: DROP, TRUNCATE
TRUNCATE
TRUNCATE statement is a Data Definition Language (DDL) operation that is
used to mark the extents of a table for deallocation (empty for reuse). The
result of this operation quickly removes all data from a table, typically
bypassing a number of integrity enforcing mechanisms. It was officially
introduced in the SQL:2008 standard.
The TRUNCATE TABLE mytable statement is logically (though not physically)
equivalent to the DELETE FROM mytable statement (without a WHERE clause).
Syntax:
DDL - SQL: DROP, TRUNCATE
DROP vs TRUNCATE
Truncate is normally ultra-fast and its ideal for deleting data from a temporary
table.
Truncate preserves the structure of the table for future use, unlike drop table
where the table is deleted with its full structure.
Table or Database deletion using DROP statement cannot be rolled back, so it
must be used wisely.
DDL - SQL: DROP, TRUNCATE
DDL - SQL: DROP, TRUNCATE
DDL - SQL: DROP, TRUNCATE
To delete the whole database
After running the above query whole database will be deleted.
To truncate Student_details table from student_data database.
After running the above query Student_details table will be truncated, i.e, the
data will be deleted but the structure will remain in the memory for further
operations.
DDL - SQL: ALTER (ADD, DROP, MODIFY)
ALTER TABLE is used to add, delete/drop or modify columns in the existing
table. It is also used to add and drop various constraints on the existing table.
ALTER TABLE – ADD
ADD is used to add columns into the existing table. Sometimes we may
require to add additional information, in that case we do not require to create
the whole database again, ADD comes to our rescue.
Syntax:
DDL - SQL: ALTER (ADD, DROP, MODIFY)
ALTER TABLE – DROP
DROP COLUMN is used to drop column in a table. Deleting the unwanted
columns from the table.
Syntax:
DDL - SQL: ALTER (ADD, DROP, MODIFY)
ALTER TABLE-MODIFY
It is used to modify the existing columns in a table. Multiple columns can also
be modified at once.
*Syntax may vary slightly in different databases.
Syntax(Oracle,MySQL,MariaDB):
Syntax(SQL Server):
DDL - SQL: ALTER (ADD, DROP, MODIFY)
Queries
Sample Table:
DDL - SQL: ALTER (ADD, DROP, MODIFY)
QUERY:
To ADD 2 columns AGE and COURSE to table Student.
OUTPUT:
DDL - SQL: ALTER (ADD, DROP, MODIFY)
MODIFY column COURSE in table Student
After running the above query maximum size of Course Column is reduced to
20 from 40.
DROP column COURSE in table Student.
OUTPUT:
DDL - SQL: Comments
As is any programming languages comments matter a lot in SQL also. In this set
we will learn about writing comments in any SQL snippet.
Comments can be written in the following three formats:
- Single line comments.
- Multi line comments
- In line comments
Single line comments: Comments starting and ending in a single line are
considered as single line comments.
Line starting with ‘–‘ is a comment and will not be executed.
Syntax:
DDL - SQL: Comments
Multi line comments: Comments starting in one line and ending in different
line are considered as multi line comments. Line starting with ‘/*’ is considered
as starting point of comment and are terminated when ‘*/’ is encountered.
Syntax:
In line comments: In line comments are an extension of multi line comments,
comments can be stated in between the statements and are enclosed in
between ‘/*’ and ‘*/’.
Syntax:
DDL - SQL: Comments
More examples:
DDL - SQL: ALTER (RENAME)
Sometimes we may want to rename our table to give it a more relevant name.
For this purpose we can use ALTER TABLE to rename the name of table.
*Syntax may vary in different databases.
Syntax(Oracle,MySQL,MariaDB):
Columns can be also be given new name with the use of ALTER TABLE.
Syntax(Oracle):
DDL - SQL: ALTER (RENAME)
Syntax(MySQL,MariaDB):
Sample Table:
DDL - SQL: ALTER (RENAME)
QUERY:
Change the name of column NAME to FIRST_NAME in table Student.
OUTPUT:
DDL - SQL: ALTER (RENAME)
Change the name of the table Student to Student_Details
OUTPUT:
Congratulations!
