CREATE TABLE

DDL

Defines a new table with columns, data types, and constraints.

Syntax

CREATE TABLE name (col1 type constraint, ...)

Example

CREATE TABLE users (
  id SERIAL PRIMARY KEY,
  name VARCHAR(100) NOT NULL,
  email VARCHAR(255) UNIQUE,
  created_at TIMESTAMP DEFAULT NOW()
);

About SQL CREATE TABLE

The CREATE TABLE keyword belongs to the DDL category of SQL statements. Defines a new table with columns, data types, and constraints. Understanding this command is essential for any developer working with relational databases like PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, or SQL Server.

SQL (Structured Query Language) is the standard language for managing and querying relational databases. The CREATE TABLE statement is supported across all major database systems, though specific syntax may vary slightly between PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, Oracle, SQL Server, and SQLite. Always consult your database's documentation for vendor-specific features and limitations.

Best practices for using CREATE TABLE: always test queries on a development database before running them in production, use parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection, and leverage EXPLAIN to understand query performance. For complex queries, consider using CTEs (Common Table Expressions) to improve readability and maintainability.

Related SQL Keywords

ALTER TABLE DROP TABLE PRIMARY KEY FOREIGN KEY