What are differences between INSERT and UPDATE in MySQL?

mysql sql sql-update sql-insert
shin picture shin · Jan 4, 2010 · Viewed 57.5k times · Source

It seems INSERT and UPDATE do the same things to me.

Is there any occasions where I should use INSERT instead of UPDATE and vice versa?

Answer

Daniel Vassallo picture Daniel Vassallo · Jan 4, 2010

In CRUD operations, the INSERT is the 'C' and the UPDATEis the 'U'. They are two of the four basic functions of persistent storage. The other two are SELECT and DELETE. Without at least these four operations, a typical database system cannot be considered complete.

Use INSERT to insert a new record.

Use UPDATE to update an existing record.

Related questions

Insert the same fixed value into multiple rows

I've got a table with a column, lets call it table_column that is currently null for all rows of the table. I'd like to insert the value "test" into that column for all rows. Can someone give me the …

Read More
Fastest way to update a MySQL table if row exists else insert. More than 2 non-unique keys

I have the following table structure: CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `reports` ( `id` int(11) NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT, `day` int(11) NOT NULL, `uid` int(11) NOT NULL, `siteid` int(11) NOT NULL, `cid` int(3) NOT NULL, `visits` int(11) NOT NULL, PRIMARY KEY (`…

Read More
Multiple Updates in MySQL

I know that you can insert multiple rows at once, is there a way to update multiple rows at once (as in, in one query) in MySQL? Edit: For example I have the following Name id Col1 Col2 Row1 1 6 1 Row2 2 2 3 …

Read More