INSERT INTO multiple rows in SQL - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

❓ query_result

intermediate

What rows are inserted by this query?

Given the table students with columns id and name, what rows will be inserted by this SQL statement?

SQL

INSERT INTO students (id, name) VALUES (1, 'Alice'), (2, 'Bob'), (3, 'Charlie');

A Two rows: (1, 'Alice'), (2, 'Bob')

B One row: (1, 'Alice') only

C Three rows: (1, 'Alice'), (2, 'Bob'), (3, 'Charlie')

D No rows inserted due to syntax error

💡 Hint

Look at how many sets of values are inside the VALUES clause.

The INSERT statement inserts all rows listed inside the VALUES clause separated by commas. Here, three sets of values mean three rows inserted.

📝 Syntax

intermediate

Which option is a valid syntax for inserting multiple rows?

Choose the correct SQL syntax to insert multiple rows into a table named products with columns product_id and product_name.

A INSERT INTO products (product_id, product_name) VALUES (101, 'Pen'), (102, 'Pencil');

B INSERT INTO products VALUES (101, 'Pen'), (102, 'Pencil');

C INSERT INTO products (product_id, product_name) VALUES (101, 'Pen'); (102, 'Pencil');

D INSERT INTO products (product_id, product_name) VALUES (101, 'Pen' AND 102, 'Pencil');

💡 Hint

Multiple rows are inserted by separating value sets with commas inside one VALUES clause.

Option A correctly uses one VALUES clause with multiple sets separated by commas. Option A misses column names but can be valid only if all columns are provided and in order. Option A wrongly uses two separate VALUES clauses. Option A uses AND incorrectly.

❓ optimization

advanced

Which method is more efficient for inserting 1000 rows?

You want to insert 1000 rows into a table orders. Which SQL approach is generally more efficient?

A Inserting rows one by one inside a loop in application code

B One INSERT statement with 1000 rows in VALUES clause

C Using 10 INSERT statements with 100 rows each

D 1000 separate INSERT statements, one per row

💡 Hint

Fewer statements reduce overhead and improve performance.

One INSERT with many rows reduces communication overhead and is faster than many separate statements or loops.

🔧 Debug

advanced

Why does this multi-row INSERT fail?

Given the table employees with columns id (integer) and name (text), why does this query fail? INSERT INTO employees (id, name) VALUES (1, 'John'), (2);

A Second row has missing value for 'name' column

B Syntax error due to missing comma between rows

C Duplicate id value causes constraint violation

D Table 'employees' does not exist

💡 Hint

Check if each row has the same number of values as columns listed.

Each row in VALUES must have the same number of values as columns specified. The second row has only one value instead of two.

🧠 Conceptual

expert

What happens if you omit column names in multi-row INSERT?

Consider this query: INSERT INTO inventory VALUES (1, 'ItemA'), (2, 'ItemB'); What is true about this statement?

A It inserts only the first row and ignores the second

B It causes syntax error because column names are required

C It inserts rows but sets all unspecified columns to NULL

D It inserts rows assuming values match all columns in table order

💡 Hint

When column names are omitted, values must match all columns in order.

If column names are omitted, SQL expects values for all columns in the exact order defined in the table schema.

Practice

1. What does the SQL statement INSERT INTO table_name (col1, col2) VALUES (1, 'A'), (2, 'B'); do?

easy

A. Deletes rows where col1 is 1 or 2.

B. Updates existing rows with new values.

C. Inserts two new rows into the table with specified values.

D. Creates a new table named table_name.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the INSERT INTO syntax

   The statement specifies columns and multiple sets of values separated by commas.

2. Step 2: Recognize the effect of multiple value sets

   Each set of values adds one new row to the table.

3. Final Answer:

   Inserts two new rows into the table with specified values. -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Multiple VALUES sets = multiple rows inserted [OK]

Hint: Multiple VALUES sets add multiple rows at once [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking it updates rows instead of inserting
• Confusing INSERT with DELETE or UPDATE
• Believing it creates a new table

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to insert multiple rows into a table named students with columns id and name?

easy

A. INSERT INTO students (id, name) SET (1, 'Alice'), (2, 'Bob');

B. INSERT INTO students (id, name) VALUES (1, 'Alice'), (2, 'Bob');

C. INSERT INTO students (id, name) VALUES (1, 'Alice') AND (2, 'Bob');

D. INSERT INTO students VALUES (1, 'Alice'); (2, 'Bob');

Solution

1. Step 1: Check the correct use of VALUES keyword

   VALUES keyword must be followed by multiple sets of values separated by commas.

2. Step 2: Identify correct punctuation and keywords

   INSERT INTO students (id, name) VALUES (1, 'Alice'), (2, 'Bob'); uses commas correctly and no extra keywords like AND or SET.

3. Final Answer:

   INSERT INTO students (id, name) VALUES (1, 'Alice'), (2, 'Bob'); -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   VALUES + comma-separated tuples = correct syntax [OK]

Hint: Use VALUES with comma-separated rows, no AND or SET [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using semicolons between value sets
• Using AND instead of commas
• Using SET keyword incorrectly

3. Given the table products(id INT, name VARCHAR(20)), what will be the result of this query?

INSERT INTO products (id, name) VALUES (1, 'Pen'), (2, 'Pencil'), (3, 'Eraser');
SELECT * FROM products;

medium

A. No rows will be added because SELECT does not insert data.

B. Only one row with id 3 and name Eraser will be added.

C. The query will cause a syntax error.

D. Three new rows with ids 1, 2, 3 and names Pen, Pencil, Eraser will be added.

Solution

1. Step 1: Analyze the INSERT statement

   The INSERT adds three rows with given ids and names in one command.

2. Step 2: Understand the SELECT statement

   SELECT * FROM products will show all rows including the newly inserted ones.

3. Final Answer:

   Three new rows with ids 1, 2, 3 and names Pen, Pencil, Eraser will be added. -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Multiple VALUES sets insert multiple rows [OK]

Hint: INSERT adds all rows; SELECT shows them all [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking only last row inserts
• Confusing SELECT with INSERT
• Expecting syntax error due to multiple rows

4. Identify the error in this SQL statement:

INSERT INTO employees (id, name) VALUES (1, 'John'); (2, 'Jane');

medium

A. Using semicolon between value sets causes syntax error.

B. Missing column names in the statement.

C. VALUES keyword is missing.

D. Using single quotes around names is invalid.

Solution

1. Step 1: Check punctuation between value sets

   Multiple rows must be separated by commas, not semicolons.

2. Step 2: Confirm correct use of VALUES and quotes

   VALUES keyword is present and single quotes for strings are correct.

3. Final Answer:

   Using semicolon between value sets causes syntax error. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Use commas, not semicolons, between multiple VALUES [OK]

Hint: Separate multiple rows with commas, not semicolons [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using semicolons instead of commas
• Omitting column list when required
• Misusing quotes around strings

5. You want to insert multiple rows into a table orders(order_id, product, quantity) but only have values for product and quantity. Which query correctly inserts three rows with products and quantities, letting order_id auto-increment?

hard

A. INSERT INTO orders (product, quantity) VALUES ('Book', 2), ('Pen', 5), ('Notebook', 3);

B. INSERT INTO orders VALUES ('Book', 2), ('Pen', 5), ('Notebook', 3);

C. INSERT INTO orders (order_id, product, quantity) VALUES (NULL, 'Book', 2), ('Pen', 5), ('Notebook', 3);

D. INSERT INTO orders (product, quantity) VALUES ('Book', 2); ('Pen', 5); ('Notebook', 3);

Solution

1. Step 1: Use column list excluding auto-increment column

   Specify only product and quantity columns to let order_id auto-fill.

2. Step 2: Provide multiple value sets separated by commas

   INSERT INTO orders (product, quantity) VALUES ('Book', 2), ('Pen', 5), ('Notebook', 3); correctly uses VALUES with comma-separated tuples.

3. Final Answer:

   INSERT INTO orders (product, quantity) VALUES ('Book', 2), ('Pen', 5), ('Notebook', 3); -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Omit auto-increment column, list others, use commas [OK]

Hint: List columns except auto-increment, separate rows with commas [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Omitting column list when not providing all columns
• Using semicolons between rows
• Inserting NULL explicitly for auto-increment column