Commands

Create command : This command is used to create

table in database. Created table is also called Base
Table. This table has independent existence. It is a
physical part of data base. When we create a table
then first we determine the name of table and after
that we define its fields. In field definition we also
determine the data type and its size.
Syntax : Create table <table-name> (column-name
datatype(size),……….);
Ex : create table employee (id number(8,0), name
varchar2(50), dept char(15), salary number(10,2));
 Alter command : This command is used to modify the
structure of table. It can add new field in a table and it
can also modify the field of table.

Syntax : Alter table <table-name> add/modify

(column-name datatype);
Ex: 1.Alter table emp add (address varchar2(50));
2. Alter table emp modify (name varchar2(25));
Following task cannot be performed by this command
1. Change the name of table.
2. Change the name of column.
3. Drop a column.
Deleting a column from a table : We can also delete
the column of any table. To delete the column we
merge alter and drop command in a single statement.
Syntax : Alter table <table-name> drop column
<column-name>;
Ex: Alter table emp Drop column address;
Renaming tables : In Oracle we can change the name
of table object. But it is not possible by alter command.
To change the name of table we use rename
command.
Syntax : Rename <old-table> to <new-table>;
Ex: Rename employee to emp;
Destroying tables : we can delete the table of
database permanently. For delete the table we use
Drop command .
Syntax : Drop table <table-name>;
Ex. : Drop table employee;

Truncating tables : In database we can empty any

table completely. To delete all records of table
permanently we can use truncate command.
Syntax : Truncate table <table-name>;
Ex. : Truncate table employee;
Difference b/w delete & truncate
command:
There are some difference between delete and
truncate command.
1. This command drop the table and recreate the
table
2. Truncate operations are not transaction safe. An
error occur if an active transaction or table lock
exist
3. The no. of deleted rows are not returned.
 Displaying structure of table : To display the structure
of any table, we use describe or desc command.
Syntax : describe or desc <table-name>;
Ex : desc employee;
Inserting data into tables : In oracle after create a table
we can insert new data or record in a table. To enter
the data in a table we use insert command. By this
command we can
1. Creates a new row in the database table.
2. Loads the values passed into the columns specified.
Syntax :insert into <table-name> (column-name1,
column-name2)values(<expression1>,expression2>);
Ex. : Insert into employee (id,name,dept,salary) values
(1001,’Amit’,’Computer’,23456.35);
Ex:Insert into employee values(&id, &name, &salary);

Delete data from table: In oracle we can delete data from

table by using delete command. By this command we can
delete some records of table and we can also delete all
records from table.
Syntax : 1. delete from <table-name>;
This command will delete all records from table.
Syntax : 2. delete from <table-name> where <conditions>;
Ex : delete from employee where name=‘amit’;
This command will delete set of records from table or it can
also delete single from a table.
Updating the contents of table : In oracle we can update or
modify the table by using update command. This command
can update all rows of table or in can also update some
special records of table.
Syntax : Update <table-name> set <column-name> =
<expression>;
Ex : Update emp set salary = salary +2000;
Syntax : Update <table-name> set <column-name> =
<expression> where <conditions>;
This command will update table conditionally.
Ex : Update emp set salary = salary +2000 where id =1002;
 Display records of table : In any table we can store records
and we can also display these records in different-2 format.
To display or select records from table we use Select
command. We can display these records by so many types.
1. Display all records of table with all columns. Syntax :
select * from <table-name>; Ex : select * from
employee;
2. Display set of records. (all column & all records.)
Syntax : select * from employee where <condition>;
Ex : select * from employee where salary >=20000;
3. Display some columns and all records
syntax : Select column1, column2, column3 from
<table-name>;
Ex : select id, name, dept from employee;
4. Display some columns and some records.
syntax : Select column1, column2, column3 from
<table-name> where <conditions>;
Ex : select id, name, dept from employee where
dept=‘computer’;
5. Eliminating duplicate rows when using a select statement.
(distinct)
syntax : Select distinct <column-name> from
<table-name> ;
Ex : select distinct name from employee;
we can also use conditions with this statement.
6. Sorting data in a table (order by).
Syntax : select * from <table-name> order by
<column-name>;
Ex: select * from employee order by salary;
(It will display records in ascending order.)
Ex: select * from employee order by name desc;
(It will display records in descending order.)
7. Logical operator (and, or, not)
Syntax : select * from <table-name> where
<condition1> an <condition2>;
Ex : select * from employee where name=‘ankit’ and
salary>20000;
Ex : select * from employee where id=1004 or
salary=20000;
8. Between operator
Syntax : select * from <table-name> where between
<expression1> and <expression2>;
Ex : select * from employee where salary between 20000
and 40000;
9. Pattern matching (%, _) : These characters are used to
match the character. Here % represents the all characters.
For ex. A% will represent those strings which will start
from “A”.
Similarly (_) represents a single character. For ex. Ami_
will represent those strings whose length will be 4 and
after “Ami” there will be a single character.
 Ex : Select * from employee where name like ‘S%’ Now
this statement will display those records In which name
will start from “S”.
Ex : Select * from employee where name like ‘Ra ----’;
Now this statement will display those records In which the
length of name will be 6 and first character will be “Ra”.
10. IN : it is used to select the list of values.
Syntax : select * from <table-name> where<cond.>;
Ex: select * from emp where salary in (12000,20000);
 Ex. : select * from emp1 where name in
(‘amit’,’anil’);
we can also use not keyword with in operator.
11. Null value : In any column of table we can check the
null value. We can check it with string or numeric
value.
Syntax : select * from <table-name> where
<column-name> is Null;
Ex : select * from emp where name is Null;
1. Creating a table from another table : In oracle we can
create new table from another table. This means we can
copy the data of an existing table in a new table. Or we can
say that we can select some data of any table and it can
paste in new table.
Syntax: create table <table> (column-name1,
column-name2,….) as select column-name1,
column-name2,…. From <table>;
Ex.: 1. create table emp1 (reg_no, name) as select id, name
from employee;
2. create table emp1 as select * from employee where
salary>20000;
2. Inserting data into a table from another table :
Normally by insert command we can store only 1 record at
a time. Buy now we can select so many record from any
table and then we can insert these records in existing table.
Syntax : Insert into <table-name> select
column-name1,column-name2,…. From <table> where
<conditions>;
Ex : 1. insert into employee select * from emp1 where
age >21;
2. insert into employee select id, salary from emp1 where
dept=‘computer’;