SQL

Structured Query Language is a default language that all database systems understand. It is designed to be easily written and understood trying to mimic the spoken English language.

SELECT - returns a record set – data from a combination of tables
INSERT - inserts values into a table
UPDATE – updates pre-existing data in a table
CREATE – creates a table in the database
DELETE - removes entire row(s) of data from a table
ALTER -  alters definition of a pre-existing table

SELECT

SELECT column_name FROM table_name

DISTINCT

SELECT DISTINCT column_name FROM table_name

WHERE

SELECT column_name FROM table_name WHERE condition

AND/OR

SELECT column_name FROM table_name  WHERE simple condition  AND/OR simple condition

IN

SELECT column_name FROM table_name WHERE column_name IN (‘value1′, ‘value2′, …)

BETWEEN

SELECT column_name  FROM table_name  WHERE column_name BETWEEN ‘value1′ AND ‘value2′

LIKE

SELECT column_name  FROM table_name   WHERE column_name LIKE ‘partphrase%’
% = wildcard (meaning characters, same as * in Access)
e.g. cape% will return cape and cape town

ORDER BY (Sorting)

SELECT column_name FROM table_name ORDER BY column_name ASC/DESC

ASC means that the results will be shown in ascending order, and DESC means that the results will be shown in descending order. If neither is specified, the default is ASC.

If a WHERE clause exists, it must appear before the ORDER BY clause as follows:

SELECT column_name FROM table_name WHERE condition ORDER BY column_name ASC/DESC

INSERT INTO

In order to add records to a table we use the INSERT command.

The syntax for inserting data into a table one row at a time is as follows:

INSERT INTO table_name (column1, column2, …)
VALUES (value1, value2, …)

This will add a new record (row) to the end of the table.

DELETE FROM

In order to delete records from a table we use the DELETE command. It is usually used in conjunction with a WHERE clause.

DELETE FROM table_name WHERE condition

UPDATE & SET

In order to chang information that is already in a table, we use the UPDATE command.

UPDATE table_name SET column_1 = new value WHERE condition