How to Update

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The update SQL statement allows the user to modify the content of any existing record in a table. It has basically two clauses:

  • The set clause is used to define the new value to put into the column (or columns) to be updated.
  • The where clause is used to specify what are the rows to update. We can modify just one row of the table, a subset of rows, or we can modify all the records of the table.
-- John Smith receives a rise of 5000
Update employee set salary = salary + 5000 
where last_name = 'Smith' and first_name = 'John';

-- All employees with a NULL in last_name are set with a generic value "no last name"
Update employee set last_name = 'no last name'
where last_name IS NULL;

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