MySQL Insert Into

Adding Data with INSERT INTO

The basic form of INSERT INTO is INSERT INTO table_name (column1, column2) VALUES (value1, value2);. Naming the columns explicitly is optional but strongly recommended, since it makes the statement correct even if the table's column order ever changes.

MySQL also allows inserting several rows in a single statement by listing multiple VALUES groups separated by commas. This is typically faster than issuing one INSERT statement per row, because the server only has to parse and commit the statement once.

Handling Missing Values and Defaults

• Columns you omit from the column list receive their default value or NULL
• Never provide a value for AUTO_INCREMENT columns; let MySQL generate them
• Columns marked NOT NULL without a default must always be given a value
• Use the DEFAULT keyword to explicitly request a column's default value
• String and date literals must be wrapped in quotes, unlike numbers

Query Examples

INSERT INTO customers (name, email, country)
VALUES ('Ravi Kumar', 'ravi@example.com', 'India');

INSERT INTO customers (name, email, country) VALUES
  ('Mia Chen', 'mia@example.com', 'Canada'),
  ('Leo Silva', 'leo@example.com', 'Brazil'),
  ('Zoe Adams', 'zoe@example.com', 'Australia');

INSERT INTO customers (name, email)
VALUES ('Sam Patel', 'sam@example.com');