LU07a - SQL-DML: Basics

1. Understand and Apply Data Insertion Concepts
2. Master the Use of UPDATE Statements with Filters
3. Safely Delete Records Using SQL DELETE Statements:
4. Demonstrate Practical Usage of SQL DML in Real-world Scenarios

To beginn with, the acronym DML stands for Data Manipulation Language and refers to how table contents are to be handled according to the rules of a relational database system such as MySQL.

MySQL DML is used to manage the data in tables, as opposed to the structure of the tables themselves. The three main operations are:

1. INSERT: Used to add new records to a table.
2. UPDATE: Modifies existing data within a table.
3. DELETE: Removes data from a table.

Each of these commands can be executed with or without filtering conditions, affecting either specific rows or all rows within a table.

The INSERT command is used to add new records to a table. When using INSERT, it is essential to specify the table and columns where the data will be added.

Syntax

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

Example

INSERT INTO employees (employee_id, first_name, last_name, hire_date, salary) 
VALUES (1, 'John', 'Doe', '2023-09-18', 55000);

The UPDATE command is used to modify existing data in a table. It can be executed with or without a WHERE clause, depending on whether you want to update specific rows or all rows.

Using a WHERE clause allows you to target specific rows to update. This ensures that only rows meeting a certain condition are modified.

Syntax

UPDATE table_name 
SET column1 = value1, column2 = value2 
WHERE condition;

Example

UPDATE employees 
SET salary = 60000 
WHERE employee_id = 1;

If you omit the WHERE clause, the UPDATE command will modify every row in the table, which can lead to unintended changes, so it must be used with caution.

Syntax

UPDATE table_name 
SET column1 = value1;

Example

UPDATE employees 
SET salary = 70000;

The DELETE command is used to remove records from a table. Like UPDATE, it can be run with or without a filter, making it vital to define the condition to avoid unintended data removal.

Using a WHERE clause ensures that only specific rows matching the condition will be deleted.

Syntax:

DELETE FROM table_name 
WHERE condition;

Example

DELETE FROM employees 
WHERE employee_id = 1;

Omitting the WHERE clause removes all data from the table, so it must be used cautiously. This operation doesn’t remove the table structure, just the rows.

Syntax:

DELETE FROM table_name;

Example:

DELETE FROM employees;

MySQL DML commands provide robust mechanisms for managing data in relational databases. The INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE commands can all be customized with filters to ensure that specific data is targeted for modification or removal. Careful use of these commands, particularly when filtering conditions are omitted, is critical for maintaining data integrity within a database.

Volkan Demir