🏗️ CREATE Command in SQL

Last Updated: January 2026

The CREATE command is a DDL (Data Definition Language) command used to create new database objects.

Defines structure
Allocates space
Makes the object available for use
Changes are permanent (auto-commit)

Using CREATE, you can create:

Tables
Databases
Views
Indexes

Hinglish Tip 🗣: Jab database ya table pehli baar banana ho, tab CREATE command use hota hai.

CREATE DATABASE

Creates a new database.

-- 1ST Way
CREATE DATABASE database_name;

-- 2ND Way (Recommended)
CREATE DATABASE IF NOT EXISTS database_name;

CREATE DATABASE IF NOT EXISTS company_db;

After this, company_db exists, but it has no tables yet.

CREATE TABLE

Creates a new table inside a database.

-- 1st Way
CREATE TABLE table_name (
    column_name datatype,
    column_name datatype
);

-- 2nd Way (Recommended)
CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS table_name (
    column_name datatype,
    column_name datatype
);

Example:

CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS employees (
    emp_id INT PRIMARY KEY AUTO_INCREMENT,
    emp_name VARCHAR(50),
    salary INT NOT NULL,
    join_date DATE DEFAULT CURRENT_DATE
    is_active BOOLEAN DEFAULT TRUE

);

Relationship Table Example

CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS orders (
    order_id INT PRIMARY KEY,
    customer_id INT NOT NULL,
    FOREIGN KEY fk_orders_customers (customer_id) REFERENCES customers(customer_id)
    On Update CASCADE On Delete CASCADE
);

Primary Key: order_id'
Foreign Key: customer_id
Foreign Key Constraint: fk_orders_customers Naming Convention is fk_table_name_foreign_key_name
Foreign Key Constraint: On Update CASCADE On Delete CASCADE Naming Convention is On Update {action} On Delete {action}
{action} can be NO ACTION, RESTRICT, SET NULL, SET DEFAULT, CASCADE
- NO ACTION is the default value means no action is taken when the referenced key is updated or deleted.
- RESTRICT means the operation is cancelled if the referenced key is updated or deleted.
- SET NULL means the foreign key is set to NULL if the referenced key is updated or deleted.
- SET DEFAULT means the foreign key is set to the default value if the referenced key is updated or deleted.
- CASCADE means the operation is performed on the referenced key if the referenced key is updated or deleted.

🔑 Important Points About CREATE TABLE

Column order matters
Data types must be valid
Constraints can be added
Table is empty after creation

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