MySQL UPDATE
The MySQL UPDATE Statement
A table’s current records can be changed using the UPDATE statement.
UPDATE Syntax
UPDATE table_name
SET column1 = value1, column2 = value2, ...
WHERE condition;
Note: Use caution while making changes to a table’s records! Take note of the UPDATE statement’s WHERE clause. It is specified which record or records need to be modified in the WHERE clause. Every record in the table will be updated if you remove the WHERE clause!
Demo Database
Below is a selection from the “Customers” table in the Northwind sample database:
CustomerID | CustomerName | ContactName | Address | City | PostalCode | Country |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Alfreds Futterkiste | Maria Anders | Obere Str. 57 | Berlin | 12209 | Germany |
2 | Ana Trujillo Emparedados y helados | Ana Trujillo | Avda. de la Constitución 2222 | México D.F. | 05021 | Mexico |
3 | Antonio Moreno Taquería | Antonio Moreno | Mataderos 2312 | México D.F. | 05023 | Mexico |
4 | Around the Horn | Thomas Hardy | 120 Hanover Sq. | London | WA1 1DP | UK |
UPDATE Table
The first customer (CustomerID = 1) is updated with a new contact person and city using the SQL query that follows.
Example
UPDATE Customers
SET ContactName = 'Alfred Schmidt', City = 'Frankfurt'
WHERE CustomerID = 1;
The selection from the “Customers” table will now look like this:
CustomerID | CustomerName | ContactName | Address | City | PostalCode | Country |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Alfreds Futterkiste | Alfred Schmidt | Obere Str. 57 | Frankfurt | 12209 | Germany |
2 | Ana Trujillo Emparedados y helados | Ana Trujillo | Avda. de la Constitución 2222 | México D.F. | 05021 | Mexico |
3 | Antonio Moreno Taquería | Antonio Moreno | Mataderos 2312 | México D.F. | 05023 | Mexico |
4 | Around the Horn | Thomas Hardy | 120 Hanover Sq. | London | WA1 1DP | UK |
UPDATE Multiple Records
How many records are updated is determined by the WHERE clause.
The PostalCode for all entries with the nation set to “Mexico” will be updated to 00000 by running the following SQL statement:
Example
UPDATE Customers
SET PostalCode = 00000
WHERE Country = 'Mexico';
The selection from the “Customers” table will now look like this:
CustomerID | CustomerName | ContactName | Address | City | PostalCode | Country |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Alfreds Futterkiste | Alfred Schmidt | Obere Str. 57 | Frankfurt | 12209 | Germany |
2 | Ana Trujillo Emparedados y helados | Ana Trujillo | Avda. de la Constitución 2222 | México D.F. | 00000 | Mexico |
3 | Antonio Moreno Taquería | Antonio Moreno | Mataderos 2312 | México D.F. | 00000 | Mexico |
4 | Around the Horn | Thomas Hardy | 120 Hanover Sq. | London | WA1 1DP | UK |
Update Warning!
When updating records, exercise caution. THE WHERE clause is optional, and it will update ALL entries!
Example
UPDATE Customers
SET PostalCode = 00000;
The selection from the “Customers” table will now look like this:
CustomerID | CustomerName | ContactName | Address | City | PostalCode | Country |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Alfreds Futterkiste | Alfred Schmidt | Obere Str. 57 | Frankfurt | 00000 | Germany |
2 | Ana Trujillo Emparedados y helados | Ana Trujillo | Avda. de la Constitución 2222 | México D.F. | 00000 | Mexico |
3 | Antonio Moreno Taquería | Antonio Moreno | Mataderos 2312 | México D.F. | 00000 | Mexico |
4 | Around the Horn | Thomas Hardy | 120 Hanover Sq. | London | 00000 | UK |