What is a Table in SQL

What is a Table in SQL-tutorial

Before we start writing SQL commands, it is important to understand how data is actually stored inside a database.

Think of a table as a digital version of an Excel sheet it has rows and columns, and each box (cell) stores one piece of data.

What is a Table?

A table in a database is a collection of related data organized in rows and columns.

Each row (also called a record) represents a single entry.

Each column (also called a field) represents a specific attribute of that entry.

Example

Imagine a table named 'Students' that stores student details.

StudentID	Name	Age	Course
1	Nikhil	22	Java
2	Priya	21	Python
3	Rahul	23	C++

How Data is Stored

When you insert data in a table, you are basically adding a new row. Each row contains values for each column in a specific order.

Real Life Analogy

Just like a student's details in a register

Each page = Table
Each line = Row
Each column header = Attribute like Name, Roll No, Age etc.

Example: Creating a Table in SQL

Here is how we define a table in SQL ( do not worry we will learn each part later )

CREATE TABLE Students (
    StudentID INT,
    Name VARCHAR(50),
    Age INT,
    Course VARCHAR(30)
);

Now, let us insert some data

INSERT INTO Students (StudentID, Name, Age, Course)
VALUES (1, 'Nikhil', 22, 'Java');

Two Minute Drill

Table = Data organized in rows and columns

Row = One record (like a single person's info)

Column = Attribute (like Name, Age)

Data stored in a table can be searched, updated and linked easily