Core Code
Core Code Modern Dev Handbook

SQL Insert Into

The INSERT INTO statement adds new records to a table. Learn how to insert single or multiple rows and handle default values.
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SQL INSERT INTO

The INSERT INTO statement is used to add new records to a table.

Basic Syntax

INSERT INTO table_name (column1, column2, column3)
VALUES (value1, value2, value3);

Insert a Single Row

Insert one new customer into the customers table:

INSERT INTO customers (name, email, country)
VALUES ('John Smith', 'john@example.com', 'USA');

Insert Without Specifying Columns

If you provide values for all columns in the correct order, you can omit the column list. However, specifying columns is strongly recommended for clarity and safety.

INSERT INTO customers
VALUES (1, 'John Smith', 'john@example.com', 'USA');

Insert Multiple Rows

You can insert multiple records in a single statement (supported in most modern database systems):

INSERT INTO customers (name, email, country)
VALUES
  ('Alice Brown', 'alice@example.com', 'Canada'),
  ('David Lee', 'david@example.com', 'UK');

Insert with NULL Values

If a column allows NULL, you can explicitly insert NULL:

INSERT INTO customers (name, email, country)
VALUES ('Maria Rossi', NULL, 'Italy');

Insert and AUTO_INCREMENT

If a table has an AUTO_INCREMENT primary key, you usually do not include it in the INSERT statement. The database will generate the value automatically.

INSERT INTO customers (name, email, country)
VALUES ('Emma White', 'emma@example.com', 'USA');

Insert Using DEFAULT Values

If a column has a DEFAULT value defined, it will be used when no value is provided.

Common Mistakes

  • Forgetting to match the number of columns and values
  • Not specifying column names and relying on column order
  • Inserting text without quotes

Next Step

Continue with SQL NULL Values to understand how NULL behaves in comparisons and filtering.

SQL Null Values →