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How to Create a Table

in MySQL

November 3, 2020
MYSQL

Home » Databases » MySQL » How to Create a

Table in MySQL

Introduction

MySQL is a well-known, free and open-source

database application. Its high performance,
ease of use and data security makes it a
popular database solution.

One of the most crucial processes in MySQL is

creating tables to store and organize data.

In this guide, you will learn how to create a

table in MySQL and insert data, as well as
different ways to query the data.

Prerequisites

Access to a terminal window/command line

A system running MySQL (learn how to
check MySQL version)
A MySQL user account with root or admin
privileges

Create a Table in
MySQL Shell
A MySQL table stores and organizes data in
columns and rows as deOned during table
creation.

The general syntax for creating a table in

MySQL is:

CREATE TABLE [IF NOT EXISTS]

table_name(
column_definition1,
column_definition2,
........,
table_constraints
);

Note: [IF NOT EXISTS]

veriOes if there is an identical
 table in the database. The query
will not be executed if an
identical table already exists.

Step 1: Log into the MySQL

Shell
1. Open a terminal window and log into the
MySQL shell. Use either an existing MySQL
user account or log in as root.

(Replace username\root with your

username. )

sudo mysql -u username\root -

p

2. Type the password for your account.

The mysql> prompt indicates that you are

logged in the MySQL shell.

Note: If you received a MySQL

‘Command Not Found’ error
 when trying to log into the
MySQL shell, don’t worry. Read
our article to Ox the MySQL
‘Command Not Found’ error.

Step 2: Create a Database

Let’s create a movies database.

1. Create a database using the CREATE

statement:

CREATE DATABASE movies;

2. Next, verify that the database was created

by showing a list of all databases. Use the SHO
W statement:

SHOW DATABASES;

The terminal prints out a list of databases and

information about the time it took to perform
the query:

3. Select the database to make changes to it

by using the USE statement:

USE movies;

Step 3: Create a Table

We’ll create a table containing information
about two movies:

Release
Title Genre Director
year

psychological
Todd
Joker 2019
thriller Phillips

The
epic
Empire Irvin
space 1980
Strikes Kershner
opera
Back

In the process of creating a table, you need to

specify the following information:

Column names – We are creating the title,

genre, director, and release year columns for
our table.
Varchar of the columns containing
characters – SpeciOes the maximum
number of characters stored in the column.
The integer of the columns containing
numbers – DeOnes numeric variables
holding whole numbers.
Not null rule – Indicates that each new
record must contain information for the
column.
Primary key – Sets a column that deOnes a
record.

1. Create a table using the CREATE command.

Using the information from our movies
example, the command is:

CREATE TABLE movies(title VAR

CHAR(50) NOT NULL,genre VARCH
AR(30) NOT NULL,director VARC
HAR(60) NOT NULL,release_year
INT NOT NULL,PRIMARY KEY(titl
e));

2. Verify that the table is created using the DES

CRIBE command:

DESCRIBE movies;

The terminal prints out information about the

table:

Field – Indicates column name.

Type – SpeciOes data type for the column
(varchar for characters, int for numbers).
Null – Indicates whether the column can
remain with null values.
Key – Displays the primary column.
Default – Displays the column’s default
value.
Extra – Indicates additional information
about the columns.

3. Insert movie information in column order –

title, genre, director, and release year. Use the I
NSERT command:

INSERT INTO movies VALUE ("Jo

ker", "psychological thrille
r", "Todd Phillips", 2019);

4. Repeat the previous step with the second

movie. Use the SELECT command to display
the table:

SELECT * FROM movies;

The terminal prints out the movie table:

Note: If you want to delete the

 table, follow our guide on how to
drop a table in MySQL.

Create a Table
Using a File Script
There is an option to create a MySQL table by
using a script.

1. Use your preferred text editor to create a Ole

and enter the following syntax:

CREATE DATABASE movies1;
USE movies1;
CREATE TABLE movies1(title VA
RCHAR(50) NOT NULL,genre VARC
HAR(30) NOT NULL,director VAR
CHAR(60) NOT NULL,release_yea
r INT NOT NULL,PRIMARY KEY(ti
tle));
INSERT INTO movies1 VALUE ("J
oker", "psychological thrille
r", "Todd Phillips", 2019);

2. After entering the syntax, save the Ole and

exit the text editor.

3. Copy the Ole to MySQL using the following

command:

sudo mysql -u root -p < movie

s1.sql/code>

The script runs automatically after copying. In

our case, it creates a table with data from the
movies1.sql Ole.

4. Log in to the MySQL shell:

5. Verify that the script ran successfully by

selecting the newly created table:

SHOW DATABASES;
USE movies1;
SELECT * FROM movies1;

Query MySQL Data

There are several options for querying data
from a MySQL table. By using the SELECT and
VIEW statements, you can manipulate and Ond
data efciently.

Display Column Data

Display column data using the SELECT
command:

SELECT title FROM movies;

The output displays the selected column and

the data associated with it:

Create a View
Views are SQL queries that display data based
on deOned parameters.

1. Create a view named minimum_release_year

to display movie titles whose release year is
after 1990. Use the CREATE VIEW command
and deOne query parameters:

CREATE VIEW minimum_release_y

ear AS SELECT title FROM movi
es WHERE release_year > 1990;

2. Display the view using the SELECT

command:

SELECT * FROM minimum_release

_year;

The output displays movies released after the

year 1990.

Alter a View
The ALTER VIEW MySQL statement modiOes
the query parameters of the previously created
view. For example, we’ll modify the
minimum_release_year view to display the titles
of the movies whose release year is before
2018.

1. To do so, run the ALTER VIEW command

with the new parameters:

ALTER VIEW minimum_release_ye

ar AS SELECT title FROM movie
s WHERE release_year < 2018;

2. Use the SELECT command to verify that the

view has been altered:

SELECT * FROM minimum_release

_year;

The output now displays movies released

before 2018.

Note: Use phoenixNAP

Knowledge Base to Ond other
 MySQL guides such as MySQL
Triggers or MySQL Date
Function and more.

Conclusion

After reading this guide, you should know how

to create a table in MySQL and crucial
commands to display the data. Learn about
the most important MySQL commands and
how to use them in our MySQL commands
cheat sheet article with a downloadable PDF.

Working with databases and tables is crucial

for data organization. If you Ond the MySQL
shell too intimidating, consider installing
Workbench for a user-friendly GUI in which you
can manage and create MySQL databases. If
you are interested to learn more about proper
organization of data tables, make sure to
check what is Database Normalization. And to
check the size of a table in MySQL database,
read our article how to check MySQL database
and table size.

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helpful?

Milica Dancuk
Milica Dancuk is a technical writer at
phoenixNAP who is passionate about
programming. Her background in Electrical
Engineering and Computing combined with her
teaching experience give her the ability to
easily explain complex technical concepts
through her content.

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