CHEATSHEET: SQL Syntax Basics

This is a list of some basic SQL syntax that one would need to refer on a regular basis. This is relational database agnostic and any database supporting ANSI SQL syntax should support these. A more specific list listing Postgres commands to follow.

Basic Query

SELECT column_name, ...
FROM table_name;

Conditional Query

SELECT column_name, ...
FROM table_name
WHERE condition;

Pattern Matching

SELECT column_name, ...
FROM table_name
WHERE column_name LIKE 'pattern';

Sorted Search

SELECT column_name, ...
FROM table_name
WHERE condition
ORDER BY column_name;

Aggregating and Grouping

SELECT column_name, ...
FROM table_name
WHERE condition
GROUP BY column_names_for_grouping
HAVING condition_for_grouped_rows

Joining Tables

SELECT table_name1.column_name, ...
FROM table_name1,table_name2, ...
WHERE table_name1.column_name = table_name2.column_name

Creating a Table

CREATE TABLE table_name(
column_name1 datatype,
column_name2 datatype,
...
);

Creating a View

CREATE VIEW view_name
AS SELECT statement

Deleting a Real Table

DROP TABLE table_name;

Deleting a view

DROP VIEW view_name;

Inserting a Row

INSERT INTO table_name(column_name1, ...)
VALUES (value1, ...)

Updating a Row

UPDATE table_name
SET column_name = value1, ...
WHERE condition;

Deleting a Row

DELETE FROM table_name
WHERE condition;