Lessons · SQL · SELECT basics

Asking a table for columns

SELECT names the columns you want, FROM names the table. That is a complete question.

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What it is for

Every report, export, dashboard tile and API endpoint that reads a database starts with SELECT ... FROM.

How to think about it

What do I want to see, and where does it live? Say what you want to see, then where it lives. Name the columns rather than using * so the result is stable when the table changes.

Worked example

SELECT title, year

The columns I want to see.

FROM films;

The table they live in.

Your turn

Get every film's title.

SELECT  FROM films;

The trap

SELECT * in application code. A new column breaks the code that assumed the old shape.

Practise SELECT basics on HoneA question on it now, a coding challenge where there is one, and it is remembered for review. Free, no email needed.