MySQL Aliases and Comments – Best Practices with Examples

Introduction – Why Use Aliases & Comments in SQL?

When writing SQL queries, clarity and conciseness are essential. That’s where aliases and comments come in. Aliases rename columns or tables for readability, while comments help explain complex query logic. These features not only make SQL more developer-friendly but also improve collaboration and maintenance.

In this guide, you’ll learn:

• How to use column and table aliases with AS
• How to write single-line and multi-line comments in SQL
• Practical examples for cleaner and more understandable queries

What Are SQL Aliases?

An alias is a temporary name assigned to a table or column. It is only valid during the execution of a SQL query and is commonly used to:

• Make column names more readable
• Shorten long table names
• Create derived column names in SELECT statements

Column Alias Syntax

SELECT column_name AS alias_name
FROM table_name;

Example: Rename first_name to Name

SELECT first_name AS Name
FROM employees;

Table Alias Syntax

SELECT t.column1
FROM table_name AS t;

Example: Rename employees table to e

SELECT e.name, e.salary
FROM employees AS e;

The AS keyword is optional in most SQL dialects, including MySQL.

MySQL Comments – Document Your SQL Code

SQL supports two main types of comments:

Single-line Comment (-- or #)

-- This is a single-line comment
SELECT * FROM employees;  # This is also a comment

Multi-line Comment (/* ... */)

/* This is a
   multi-line comment */
SELECT * FROM employees;

Use comments to explain logic, disable portions of code, or clarify sections in complex queries.

Combined Example – Aliases with Comments

-- Get the full name and salary of all employees
SELECT CONCAT(first_name, ' ', last_name) AS FullName,
       salary AS SalaryAmount
FROM employees AS e
WHERE salary > 50000;

Here, FullName and SalaryAmount are aliases, and the query is documented with a comment.

Best Practices for Aliases & Comments

Real-World Use Cases

Summary – Recap & Next Steps

Aliases and comments help make SQL more readable, maintainable, and collaborative. Whether you’re simplifying joins or documenting logic, these tools elevate your query quality and clarity.

Key Takeaways

• Use column/table aliases to rename output or simplify table references
• Use --, #, and /* */ for single-line and multi-line comments
• Aliases are temporary and valid only during query execution
• Well-commented SQL supports collaboration and maintainability

Real-World Relevance

In production databases, developers often work in teams—aliases and comments make it easier for everyone to understand, audit, and improve SQL queries.

FAQ – MySQL Aliases & Comments

Can I use aliases without the AS keyword?

Yes. MySQL allows aliases without AS, though using it improves clarity:

SELECT first_name Name FROM employees; -- Valid
SELECT first_name AS Name FROM employees; -- Clearer

Can I alias functions or expressions?

Absolutely. Example:

SELECT COUNT(*) AS total_employees FROM employees;

Are comments stored in the database?

No. Comments are ignored at runtime and not stored in the database schema or logs.

Can aliases be used in WHERE or HAVING clauses?

In MySQL, column aliases can’t be used in the WHERE clause, but they can be used in ORDER BY and HAVING.

SELECT salary AS sal FROM employees
WHERE sal > 50000; --  This will fail

--  Use alias in ORDER BY
SELECT salary AS sal FROM employees ORDER BY sal DESC;

Do aliases affect column names in the actual table?

No. Aliases are temporary and do not rename actual columns or tables in the schema.