INSERT INTO multiple rows in SQL - Mini Project: Build & Apply

Insert Multiple Rows into a Database Table

📖 Scenario: You are managing a small bookstore database. You need to add several new books to the books table at once to keep the inventory updated.

🎯 Goal: Learn how to insert multiple rows into the books table using a single INSERT INTO statement.

📋 What You'll Learn

Create a table called books with columns id (integer), title (text), and author (text).

Insert multiple rows into the books table in one INSERT INTO statement.

Use exact values for the books as specified in the instructions.

💡 Why This Matters

🌍 Real World

In real bookstores or libraries, adding multiple new books to the database at once saves time and keeps inventory accurate.

💼 Career

Database administrators and developers often insert multiple records efficiently to maintain data integrity and performance.

1

Create the books table

Write a SQL statement to create a table called books with three columns: id as an integer, title as text, and author as text.

SQL

-- Write the CREATE TABLE statement for books
-- Your code here

Need a hint?

Use CREATE TABLE books (id INTEGER, title TEXT, author TEXT); to create the table.

2

Prepare to insert multiple rows

Write a SQL statement that starts an INSERT INTO command for the books table specifying the columns id, title, and author. Do not add the values yet.

SQL

CREATE TABLE books (
  id INTEGER,
  title TEXT,
  author TEXT
);

-- Start the INSERT INTO statement for books
-- Your code here

Need a hint?

Use INSERT INTO books (id, title, author) to specify the table and columns.

3

Insert multiple rows with values

Complete the INSERT INTO statement by adding VALUES with three rows: (1, 'The Hobbit', 'J.R.R. Tolkien'), (2, '1984', 'George Orwell'), and (3, 'To Kill a Mockingbird', 'Harper Lee').

SQL

CREATE TABLE books (
  id INTEGER,
  title TEXT,
  author TEXT
);

INSERT INTO books (id, title, author)
-- Add VALUES with three rows here
-- Your code here

Need a hint?

Use VALUES (1, 'The Hobbit', 'J.R.R. Tolkien'), (2, '1984', 'George Orwell'), (3, 'To Kill a Mockingbird', 'Harper Lee'); to insert multiple rows.

4

Verify the insertion with a SELECT statement

Add a SQL statement to select all columns from the books table to check that the rows were inserted correctly.

SQL

CREATE TABLE books (
  id INTEGER,
  title TEXT,
  author TEXT
);

INSERT INTO books (id, title, author)
VALUES
  (1, 'The Hobbit', 'J.R.R. Tolkien'),
  (2, '1984', 'George Orwell'),
  (3, 'To Kill a Mockingbird', 'Harper Lee');

-- Write a SELECT statement to view all rows in books
-- Your code here

Need a hint?

Use SELECT * FROM books; to see all rows in the table.