I recently needed to add multiple columns to an existing table to store summary data calculations and wondered if I could do it in one MySQL ALTER TABLE statement. Turns out you can. And, it’s super simple. Convenient too. Continue reading and learn what I learned…
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MySQL ALTER TABLE
In MySQL, to add a new column to an existing table, the ALTER TABLE syntax would look like this:
ALTER TABLE table_name ADD COLUMN column_name column_definition;
Let’s try adding multiple columns in one command.
I have this arbitrary table with 2 columns:
DESC a_tab;
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We start with ALTER TABLE table_name ADD COLUMN like normal. Then specify however many columns we want, with the required definition for each, enclosed in parentheses.
ALTER TABLE a_tab
ADD COLUMN (
name_col VARCHAR(30) DEFAULT ‘not sure’,
age_col INTEGER DEFAULT NULL,
another_col TEXT
);
Checking the table definition again, we can see the 3 new columns have been added, all with one ALTER TABLE command:
DESC a_tab;
Viola. So easy, right?
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Josh Otwell has a passion to study and grow as a SQL Developer and blogger. Other favorite activities find him with his nose buried in a good book, article, or the Linux command line. Among those, he shares a love of tabletop RPG games, reading fantasy novels, and spending time with his wife and two daughters.
Disclaimer: The examples presented in this post are hypothetical ideas of how to achieve similar types of results. They are not the utmost best solution(s). The majority, if not all, of the examples provided, are performed on a personal development/learning workstation environment and should not be considered production quality or ready. Your particular goals and needs may vary. Use those practices that best benefit your needs and goals. Opinions are my own.
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Receive a copy of my ebook, “10 MySQL Tips For Everyone”, absolutely free when you subscribe to the OpenLampTech newsletter.
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