SQL INSERT Command

INSERT Command

The INSERT command in SQL is used to add new records (rows) into a database table.

Whenever you want to store new data in a table, such as adding a new student, employee, or product, the INSERT command is used.

Important: Unlike the SELECT command, INSERT modifies the data by adding new rows.

Understanding INSERT with a Simple Concept

A database table can be compared to a register or spreadsheet.

Using INSERT is similar to adding a new entry at the bottom of a register.

Example: Student Table

id	name	marks
1	Rahul	85
2	Anjali	90

Why Use the INSERT Command?

Syntax

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

Inserting Data into Specific Columns

INSERT INTO students (id, name, marks)
VALUES (3, 'Amit', 88);

Result

A new row is added to the table.

Inserting Data Without Column Names

If values are provided in the exact order of columns, column names can be omitted.

INSERT INTO students
VALUES (4, 'Neha', 92);

Note: This method is not recommended in real projects because it depends on column order.

Inserting Multiple Rows at Once

SQL allows inserting multiple records in a single query.

INSERT INTO students (id, name, marks)
VALUES
(5, 'Ravi', 80),
(6, 'Pooja', 95);

Rules for Best Practices

Two Minute Drill