SQL Syntax

Here is the syntax for the SQL SELECT statement that the SQL parser recognizes.

Considerations

• SQL syntax is case insensitive.
• Field and table names are case sensitive

Legend

• [ x ] - Optional (one or none)
• [, x ... ] - Optional additional values, in a comma-separated list
• x | y - Choose one. Curly braces are added when needed: { x | y } ...
• CAPITALIZED - SQL Keyword (case insensitive)
• italicized - Value you supply. (Table names and column names are case-sensitive)

SELECT Statement

In a select statement, you designate one more columns separated by commas (or "*" for all columns), plus a table or join to get the data from, and additional options:

SELECT

[ DISTINCT ]

[ ( ]  column_expr [ , column_expr ... ]  [ ) ]

FROM table_reference

[ WHERE where_clause ]

[ GROUP BY group_by_clause  [HAVING query [{AND|OR} query ...]] ]

[ ORDER BY order_by_clause ]

[ LIMIT limit_clause ]

where:

DISTINCT

Eliminates duplicate rows from the result set.

For example: DISTINCT(customer_name, address)

HAVING

Is only allowed as part of GROUP BY, for performance reasons. (WHERE is vastly more efficient.)

Learn more:: MySQL Select Statement syntax

column_expr

*  |  table_alias.*  |  column_name [ [AS] column_alias ]  |  expr [AS] column_alias

where:

column_alias

Displays as the column name in the result set, in the SQL Browser.
Can be used as a field name in a group_by_clause or order_by_clause.

For example:

SELECT CONCAT(last_name,', ',first_name) AS full_name

FROM Customer_Contacts ORDER BY full_name;

expr

SQL Function

   | stuff...

table_reference

...

where:

xxx

...

where_clause

WHERE query [ {AND|OR} query ... ]

query

...

where:

xxx

...

group_by_clause

GROUP BY column_name [ASC | DESC]  [ , column_name [ASC | DESC] ... ]  [ WITH ROLLUP ]

where:

ASC

Ascending (the default).

DESC

Descending.

order_by_clause

ORDER BY column_name [ASC | DESC]  [ , column_name [ASC | DESC] ... ]

where:

ASC

Ascending (the default).

DESC

Descending.

limit_clause

maximum_rows  |  offset, maximum_rows

where:

maximum_rows

Maximum number of rows to return.

offset

The row to start from. Offset for the first row is zero (0).