DML (INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE) in DBMS Theory - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What does DML stand for in databases?

DML stands for Data Manipulation Language. It is used to add, change, or remove data in a database.

beginner

What is the purpose of the INSERT statement?

The INSERT statement adds new rows of data into a table in the database.

beginner

How does the UPDATE statement work?

UPDATE changes existing data in one or more rows of a table based on a condition.

beginner

What does the DELETE statement do?

DELETE removes one or more rows from a table based on a specified condition.

intermediate

Why is it important to use conditions with UPDATE and DELETE?

Conditions limit which rows are changed or removed. Without conditions, all rows could be affected, causing data loss.

Which DML command is used to add new data to a table?

A INSERT

B UPDATE

C DELETE

D SELECT

INSERT adds new rows to a table.

What happens if you run DELETE without a WHERE condition?

A Deletes only the first row

B Deletes all rows in the table

C Deletes no rows

D Returns an error

Without WHERE, DELETE removes every row in the table.

Which statement changes existing data in a table?

A UPDATE

B CREATE

C DELETE

D INSERT

UPDATE modifies existing rows based on conditions.

What is the main risk of running UPDATE without a WHERE clause?

A No rows will be updated

B Only one row will be updated

C All rows will be updated

D The table structure will change

Without WHERE, UPDATE affects every row in the table.

Which DML command would you use to remove a specific record?

A ALTER

B UPDATE

C INSERT

D DELETE

DELETE removes rows from a table based on conditions.

Explain the differences between INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE commands in DML.

Think about how each command affects the data in a table.

Why should you be careful when using UPDATE or DELETE without a WHERE clause?

Consider what happens if no limits are set on these commands.

Practice

1. Which DML command is used to add new rows to a database table?

easy

A. INSERT

B. UPDATE

C. DELETE

D. SELECT

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of DML commands

   DML commands are used to manipulate data in tables: adding, changing, or removing rows.

2. Step 2: Identify the command for adding rows

   The INSERT command adds new rows, UPDATE changes existing rows, and DELETE removes rows.

3. Final Answer:

   INSERT -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Add new rows = INSERT [OK]

Hint: Add new data? Use INSERT command [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing UPDATE with INSERT
• Using DELETE to add data
• Thinking SELECT adds data

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to update the salary to 5000 for employee with id 10?

easy

A. UPDATE employees SET salary 5000 WHERE id = 10;

B. UPDATE employees salary = 5000 WHERE id = 10;

C. UPDATE employees SET salary = 5000 WHERE id = 10;

D. UPDATE employees SET salary = 5000;

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall the UPDATE syntax

   The correct syntax is UPDATE table_name SET column = value WHERE condition; to update specific rows.

2. Step 2: Check each option

   UPDATE employees SET salary = 5000 WHERE id = 10; matches the correct syntax with a WHERE clause to target employee id 10. Options B and C miss the SET keyword or equal sign. UPDATE employees SET salary = 5000; lacks WHERE, so it updates all rows.

3. Final Answer:

   UPDATE employees SET salary = 5000 WHERE id = 10; -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   UPDATE with SET and WHERE = UPDATE employees SET salary = 5000 WHERE id = 10; [OK]

Hint: UPDATE needs SET and WHERE for specific rows [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Omitting SET keyword
• Missing WHERE clause
• Wrong assignment syntax

3. Consider the table products with columns id, name, and price. What will be the result of this query?

DELETE FROM products WHERE price < 100;

medium

A. All products with price greater than 100 will be removed.

B. All products with price less than 100 will be removed.

C. No products will be removed because condition is incorrect.

D. Syntax error due to missing semicolon.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand DELETE with WHERE condition

   The DELETE command removes rows matching the WHERE condition. Here, it targets rows where price is less than 100.

2. Step 2: Analyze the condition and syntax

   The condition price < 100 correctly selects products priced below 100. The semicolon is optional in many systems but good practice.

3. Final Answer:

   All products with price less than 100 will be removed. -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   DELETE with price < 100 removes matching rows [OK]

Hint: DELETE removes rows matching WHERE condition [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing less than with greater than
• Thinking DELETE needs all rows
• Assuming syntax error without semicolon

4. Identify the error in this SQL statement:

UPDATE employees SET salary = 6000 WHERE;

medium

A. Missing condition after WHERE clause.

B. Incorrect use of SET keyword.

C. Salary value should be in quotes.

D. UPDATE cannot be used without DELETE.

Solution

1. Step 1: Check the UPDATE statement structure

   UPDATE requires SET to assign new values and WHERE to specify which rows to update.

2. Step 2: Identify the error in the WHERE clause

   The statement ends with WHERE but no condition follows, which is a syntax error.

3. Final Answer:

   Missing condition after WHERE clause. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   WHERE must have a condition [OK]

Hint: WHERE must always have a condition [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Leaving WHERE empty
• Putting value in quotes unnecessarily
• Confusing UPDATE with DELETE

5. You want to increase the price by 10% for all products priced below 50. Which SQL statement correctly does this?

hard

A. UPDATE products SET price = price + 0.10 WHERE price < 50;

B. UPDATE products SET price = price + 10 WHERE price < 50;

C. UPDATE products SET price = price * 0.10 WHERE price < 50;

D. UPDATE products SET price = price * 1.10 WHERE price < 50;

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the requirement to increase price by 10%

   Increasing by 10% means multiplying the current price by 1.10 (100% + 10%).

2. Step 2: Analyze each option

   UPDATE products SET price = price * 1.10 WHERE price < 50; correctly multiplies price by 1.10 for prices less than 50. UPDATE products SET price = price + 10 WHERE price < 50; adds 10 units, not 10%. UPDATE products SET price = price * 0.10 WHERE price < 50; multiplies by 0.10, reducing price. UPDATE products SET price = price + 0.10 WHERE price < 50; adds 0.10 units, a small increase.

3. Final Answer:

   UPDATE products SET price = price * 1.10 WHERE price < 50; -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Multiply price by 1.10 to increase by 10% [OK]

Hint: Multiply by 1.10 to increase by 10% [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Adding fixed amount instead of percentage
• Multiplying by 0.10 reduces price
• Forgetting WHERE clause