---
title: "SQL Reference Cheatsheet | FindUtils"
description: "Common SQL clauses for queries, joins, aggregation, data changes, tables, and indexes. Check the database dialect."
url: https://findutils.com/cheatsheets/sql-reference/
---

# SQL Reference Cheatsheet

Common SQL clauses for queries, joins, aggregation, data changes, tables, and indexes. Check the database dialect. 43 commands in 7 sections, filed under [Programming](https://findutils.com/cheatsheets/programming/).

## Querying Data

- `SELECT * FROM table`: Select all columns from table
- `SELECT col1, col2 FROM table`: Select specific columns
- `SELECT DISTINCT col FROM table`: Select unique values only
- `SELECT col AS alias FROM table`: Column alias
- `SELECT COUNT(*) FROM table`: Count total rows
- `SELECT * FROM table LIMIT 10`: Limit results to 10 rows
- `SELECT * FROM table LIMIT 10 OFFSET 20`: Pagination (skip 20, take 10)

## Filtering & Sorting

- `WHERE col = value`: Filter by exact match
- `WHERE col != value / WHERE col <> value`: Not equal
- `WHERE col > 10 AND col < 100`: Range with AND
- `WHERE col IN (1, 2, 3)`: Match any value in list
- `WHERE col NOT IN (1, 2, 3)`: Exclude values in list
- `WHERE col BETWEEN 10 AND 100`: Range inclusive
- `WHERE col LIKE "%pattern%"`: Pattern match (% = any chars)
- `WHERE col IS NULL / IS NOT NULL`: Check for NULL values
- `ORDER BY col ASC|DESC`: Sort results
- `ORDER BY col1 ASC, col2 DESC`: Multi-column sort

## Joins

- `INNER JOIN t2 ON t1.id = t2.fk`: Only matching rows from both tables
- `LEFT JOIN t2 ON t1.id = t2.fk`: All from left + matching from right
- `RIGHT JOIN t2 ON t1.id = t2.fk`: All from right + matching from left
- `FULL OUTER JOIN t2 ON t1.id = t2.fk`: All rows from both tables
- `CROSS JOIN t2`: Cartesian product (all combinations)
- `self JOIN: FROM t1 a JOIN t1 b`: Join table with itself

## Aggregation

- `COUNT(col) / COUNT(*)`: Count non-null values / all rows
- `SUM(col)`: Sum of values
- `AVG(col)`: Average of values
- `MIN(col) / MAX(col)`: Minimum / maximum value
- `GROUP BY col`: Group rows by column
- `HAVING COUNT(*) > 5`: Filter groups (like WHERE for groups)

## Data Modification

- `INSERT INTO t (col) VALUES (val)`: Insert single row
- `INSERT INTO t (col) VALUES (v1), (v2)`: Insert multiple rows
- `UPDATE t SET col = val WHERE id = 1`: Update specific rows
- `DELETE FROM t WHERE id = 1`: Delete specific rows
- `TRUNCATE TABLE t`: Remove all rows; logging, locking, and rollback behavior depend on the database

## Table Operations

- `CREATE TABLE t (id INT PRIMARY KEY, ...)`: Create table
- `ALTER TABLE t ADD col TYPE`: Add column
- `ALTER TABLE t DROP COLUMN col`: Remove column
- `ALTER TABLE t RENAME TO new_name`: Rename table
- `DROP TABLE t`: Delete table
- `CREATE INDEX idx ON t(col)`: Create index

## Sources

- `https://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/queries.html`: PostgreSQL query reference: clauses, joins, grouping, and limits.
- `https://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/sql-truncate.html`: PostgreSQL TRUNCATE: locking and transaction behavior.
- `https://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/8.4/en/truncate-table.html`: MySQL 8.4 TRUNCATE: implicit commits and binary logging.

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