SQL ALTER TABLE

The UPDATE, INSERT, DELETE Statements are used to change the contents of a table. SQL also offers ways of changing the structure of a table. Table Structure can be change by using ALTER TABLE command. It usually is use for adding column into the table and dropping column as well.

SQL syntax will be like this:

ALTER TABLE [TABLE NAME]
[TABLE ALTERING]

OR

[TABLE ALTERING] :=
ADD [COLUMN NAME] [DATATYPE] |
DROP COLUMN [COLUMN NAME]

EXAMPLE :

1. Add a new column name player_firstname into table GamesScores.

SQL Statement:

ALTER TABLE GameScores
ADD player_firstname CHAR(40)

2. Drop a column player_firstname from the table name GameScores.

SQL Statement:

ALTER TABLE GameScores
DROP COLUMN player_firstname