Simple Retrieval

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The simplest retrievals fetch information from one table.

The general form of the simple SELECT statement is:

 SELECT column-list FROM table_name WHERE condition;
 

The column-list specifies which columns to select, and the WHERE condition determines which rows to select. If no WHERE condition is specified, all rows are retrieved from the source table or view.

Examples of Simple Retrieval

Find the format identifiers and their meaning:

 SELECT format_id, format
    FROM formats;

Returns:

FORMAT_ID	FORMAT
1	Audio CD
2	Cassette
3	DVD Audio
4	Vinyl
5	Audio Cassette
6	Audio CD
7	Hardcover
8	Paperback
9	DVD Video
10	Video

Find the name and code for all countries that use Australian dollars (AUD).

 SELECT country, code
    FROM countries
    WHERE currency_code = 'AUD';

Returns:

COUNTRY	CODE
Australia	AU
Cocos (Keeling) Islands	CC
Christmas Island	CX
Heard and McDonald Islands	HM
Kiribati	KI
Norfolk Island	NF
Nauru	NR
Tuvalu	TV

How to formulate selection conditions is described in detail in Selecting Specific Rows.

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