SQL in a Nutshell, 3rd Edition

Name

INSERT Statement

The INSERT statement adds rows of data to a table or view.

Platform	Command
MySQL	Supported, with variations
Oracle	Supported, with variations
PostgreSQL	Supported
SQL Server	Supported, with variations

The INSERT statement allows rows to be written to a table through one of several methods:

• One or more rows can be inserted using the DEFAULT values specified for a column via the CREATE TABLE or ALTER TABLE statements.

• The actual values to be inserted into each column of the record can be declared (this is the most common method).

• The result set of a SELECT statement can be inserted into a table or view, populating it with many records simultaneously.

SQL2003 Syntax

INSERT INTO [ONLY] {table_name | view_name} [(column1[, ...])]
[OVERRIDE {SYSTEM | USER} VALUES]
{DEFAULT VALUES | VALUES (value1[, ...]) | select_statement}

Keywords

ONLY

Used on typed tables only, this optional keyword ensures that the values inserted into table_name are not inserted into any subtables.

{table_name | view_name} [(column1[, . . . ])]

Declares the updatable target table or view into which the records will be inserted. You must have INSERT privileges on the table or, at a minimum, on the columns that will receive the inserted values. If no schema information is included, as in scott.employee, the current schema and user context are assumed. You may optionally include a list of the columns in the target table or view that will receive data.

OVERRIDE {SYSTEM | USER} VALUES

Requires the SYSTEM keyword when inserting ...