📝 SQL INSERT INTO – Add New Records to Tables

🧲 Introduction – Why Use INSERT INTO?

The INSERT INTO statement in SQL is used to add new rows of data to a table. It’s essential for populating a database with information like user registrations, product listings, orders, and any other incoming data.

Understanding how to use INSERT INTO efficiently helps maintain data integrity and supports batch data operations.

🎯 In this guide, you’ll learn how to:

• Insert a single row of data
• Insert multiple rows
• Insert with specific columns
• Use INSERT INTO SELECT to copy from other tables

---

✅ 1. Basic Syntax – Insert All Columns

INSERT INTO table_name
VALUES (value1, value2, ...);

✅ All column values must match the table’s column order.

---

🧾 2. Specify Columns Explicitly

INSERT INTO employees (name, age, department)
VALUES ('Alice', 30, 'HR');

✅ Always recommended to avoid column order mismatches.

---

🔁 3. Insert Multiple Rows

INSERT INTO employees (name, age, department)
VALUES
  ('John', 28, 'Sales'),
  ('Maria', 32, 'IT');

✅ Efficient for bulk inserts in a single statement.

---

🔄 4. INSERT INTO SELECT – Copy From Another Table

INSERT INTO archive_employees (id, name, department)
SELECT id, name, department
FROM employees
WHERE status = 'resigned';

✅ Adds selected rows from one table into another.

---

⚠️ 5. Insert NULL and Default Values

INSERT INTO employees (name, age, department)
VALUES ('Nina', NULL, DEFAULT);

✅ Use NULL or DEFAULT based on column definitions.

---

📘 Best Practices

✅ Do This	❌ Avoid This
Specify column names explicitly	Relying on implicit column order
Validate data types and lengths	Inserting invalid values blindly
Use transactions for bulk inserts	Inserting row-by-row in loops
Use INSERT INTO SELECT for data migration	Manually copy-pasting rows

---

📌 Summary – Recap & Next Steps

INSERT INTO is a fundamental SQL statement that lets you add data into relational tables. It supports single-row, multi-row, and conditional insert operations.

🔍 Key Takeaways:

• Use INSERT INTO to populate your tables with new data
• Always match values with columns
• Use INSERT INTO SELECT for copying between tables
• Handle NULLs and defaults properly

⚙️ Real-World Relevance:
Used in web apps, APIs, dashboards, form submissions, and ETL pipelines.

➡️ Next up: Learn how to modify existing data with SQL UPDATE.

---

❓ FAQ – SQL INSERT INTO

❓ Can I insert multiple rows at once?

✅ Yes, just separate each row with commas in a single statement.

❓ What happens if I omit a column in the INSERT?

✅ It must have a default value or accept NULL, otherwise you’ll get an error.

❓ How do I insert data into selected columns?

✅ Specify the columns explicitly in the INSERT INTO clause.

❓ Can I insert data from one table into another?

✅ Yes, use INSERT INTO SELECT ... for this.

❓ Can I insert data without knowing the column names?

✅ Not recommended. It may break if table structure changes.

---

Share Now :