05_creating_new_data.md

Creating new data

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Learn to write INSERT SQL queries to create new records.

Introduction

We use the INSERT query to create new records into a table. The general syntax is:

INSERT INTO [table name]
  ( [list of columns] )
  VALUES( [list of values] );

In the list of columns, we can choose to specify only the columns we need to insert values for.

For the sake of simplicity, it's best to always specify all columns to insert, except for the id column, as it is configured to be generated automatically by PostgreSQL.

Run the following in the psql REPL:

-- We don't specify the value for the `id`
-- column, the database will automatically pick one.
INSERT INTO artists 
  (name, genre)
  VALUES('Massive Attack', 'Alternative');

Demonstration

Here's a video demonstration. Make sure you attempt the exercise before watching the solution.

Exercise

1. INSERT a new record in albums with title 'Mezzanine', and release year 1998.
2. We forgot to link this new record with the correct artist. Use an UPDATE query to update the artist_id of that new album with Massive Attack (it should have the id value 5).

Solution video

Challenge

Insert a new artist of your choice, and a new album related to that artist (here's an idea, if you can't pick one).

Then run a SELECT query to check the new artist is now in the table.

Next Challenge

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