MySQL SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE Cheatsheet

SELECT * FROM users;

# Return all columns from a table.

SELECT id, email, full_name FROM users;

# Return only the columns you need.

SELECT id, email FROM users WHERE is_active = 1;

# Match rows using equality conditions.

SELECT id, email, created_at FROM users ORDER BY created_at DESC LIMIT 20;

# Return the newest rows first.

SELECT DISTINCT status FROM orders ORDER BY status;

# Collapse duplicates in a result set.

SELECT id, email FROM users WHERE email LIKE '%@example.com';

# Match a string using wildcard patterns.

SELECT id, created_at FROM orders WHERE created_at BETWEEN '2026-01-01' AND '2026-01-31 23:59:59';

# Return rows between two timestamps.

INSERT INTO users (email, full_name) VALUES ('ava@example.com', 'Ava Stone');

# Create a new row with explicit columns.

INSERT INTO users (email, full_name) VALUES
  ('liam@example.com', 'Liam Cole'),
  ('mia@example.com', 'Mia Shaw');

# Create several rows in one statement.

UPDATE users SET is_active = 0 WHERE email LIKE '%@old-domain.com';

# Change values for rows that match a filter.

DELETE FROM sessions WHERE expires_at < NOW();

# Remove rows that match a predicate.

TRUNCATE TABLE staging_events;

# Remove all rows quickly and reset auto-increment counters.

INSERT INTO users (email, full_name)
VALUES ('ava@example.com', 'Ava Stone')
ON DUPLICATE KEY UPDATE full_name = VALUES(full_name);

# Insert a row or update it when a unique key already exists.

REPLACE INTO feature_flags (flag_key, flag_value) VALUES ('beta_ui', 'on');

# Insert or delete-and-insert based on unique key conflicts.