UPDATE Query in SQL

Here are the topics we are about to discuss in this blog:

• Update command in SQL
• A Brief Introduction to the UPDATE Query in SQL
• Update Table in SQL
• SQL update multiple columns
• SQL update multiple rows

There are many SQL queries but In this tutorial section, we will discuss what is an UPDATE query in SQL and how to update records using the SQL UPDATE query in a SQL Table with a Demo.

To store data in tables, we use databases. After the data is written to such tables, it is common that you need to update specific fields at some point throughout the data’s lifespan. To do this, we can utilize the UPDATE statement in the SQL language. An Update query is a form of action query that makes several updates to multiple records at once.

Watch this Update Query in SQL video

The UPDATE command in SQL is used to modify or change the existing records in a table. If we want to update a particular value, we use the WHERE clause along with the UPDATE clause. If you do not use the WHERE clause, all the rows will be affected. Moreover, we can use the UPDATE statement to update single or several columns depending on our needs.

Syntax

UPDATE table_name
SET col1=val1, col2=val2…
[Where condition];

where UPDATE, SET, and WHERE are the keywords, table_name is the name of the table you want the update, col1, col2, … are the columns considered to be updated, val1, val2, … assign new values, and the condition section is where the condition is given, followed by a semicolon.

Let’s update some records of the employee table using the Update command in SQL

UPDATE employee
SET e_age=42
WHERE e_name=’sam’;

• After writing the query, click on the execute button to check for errors

• Once the query is executed, a message appears like ‘Commands completed successfully’
• Let’s check the update

SELECT * from employee;

• Now you can check out the updated data in the table.

Here is an example for updating multiple columns in SQL.

UPDATE EMPLOYEE
SET Last_Name='KAPADIA',First_Name='MANISH'
WHERE Employee_ID=7369

• After writing the query, click on the execute button to check for errors
• Once the query is executed, a message appears like ‘1 row affected ‘.

• Let’s check the update

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SELECT * from employee;

• Now you can check out the updated data in the table.

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UPDATE Employee
SET Middle_Name 
= CASE Employee_ID
WHEN 7369 THEN 'A'
WHEN 7499 THEN 'B'
ELSE Middle_Name
END
WHERE Employee_ID IN(7369,7499);

• After writing the query, click on the execute button to check for errors
• Once the query is executed, a message appears like ‘1 row affected ‘.

• Let’s check the update
• SELECT * from employee;

This brings us to the end of this tutorial section, and you’re ready for updating your database with the Update query in SQL.

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