Sams Teach Yourself SQL in 21 Days, Fourth Edition

Introducing Data-Manipulation Statements

Up to this point, you have learned how to retrieve data from a database using every selection criterion imaginable. After this data is retrieved, you can use it in an application program or edit it. Week 1 focused on retrieving data. However, you may have wondered how to enter data into the database in the first place. You may also be wondering what to do with data that has been edited. Today, we discuss three SQL statements that enable you to manipulate the data within a database's table. The three statements are as follows:

• INSERT

• UPDATE

• DELETE

You may have used a PC-based product such as Access, dBASE IV, or FoxPro to enter your data in the past. These products come packaged with excellent tools to enter, ...