CREATE VIEW: Creating Virtual Tables with Query Results in SQL

The CREATE VIEW statement in SQL allows you to define a virtual table based on the results of a query. A view is a saved SQL query that can be treated as a table, providing a convenient way to simplify complex queries, encapsulate business logic, and enhance data security. In this guide, we will explore the syntax and usage of the CREATE VIEW statement, enabling you to create virtual tables that offer a dynamic and simplified view of your data.

The basic syntax of the CREATE VIEW statement is as follows:

CREATE VIEW view_name AS
SELECT column1, column2, ...
FROM table_name
WHERE condition;

To create a view, you need to provide a name for the view and specify the columns and query that define its structure and data.

For example, let’s consider a table called “employees” with columns for “employee_id,” “first_name,” “last_name,” and “salary.” To create a view named “employee_view” that includes only the “employee_id” and “first_name” columns from the “employees” table, the query would look like this:

CREATE VIEW employee_view AS
SELECT employee_id, first_name
FROM employees;

This query creates a virtual table or view called “employee_view” that retrieves data from the “employees” table but includes only the specified columns. The view provides a simplified and focused representation of the data, making it easier to work with.

Once the view is created, you can query it just like a regular table:

SELECT * FROM employee_view;

This query retrieves all columns from the “employee_view” view, which will display the “employee_id” and “first_name” columns based on the definition of the view.

Views can also incorporate joins, aggregate functions, or other advanced query features to provide more complex and meaningful results. The underlying query can include multiple tables and apply various filtering and sorting conditions.

It’s important to note that views do not store data themselves. They are based on the underlying tables and reflect the most up-to-date data when queried. Any modifications made to the underlying tables will be reflected in the view.

Views offer several benefits, including:

1. Simplifying complex queries: Views allow you to encapsulate complex logic into a single view, making it easier to work with and maintain.
2. Enhancing data security: Views can restrict access to specific columns or rows, providing an additional layer of security for sensitive data.
3. Promoting data consistency: Views can be used to enforce consistent data access and present a unified view of the data, even if it spans multiple tables.

To remove a view, you can use the DROP VIEW statement followed by the view name:

DROP VIEW view_name;

This statement removes the specified view from the database.

The CREATE VIEW statement in SQL enables you to create virtual tables based on the results of queries. By creating views, you can simplify complex queries, encapsulate business logic, and enhance data security and consistency. Views offer a convenient way to work with data, providing a focused and simplified representation of your database. Remember that views do not store data themselves but reflect the underlying tables’ data. With the CREATE VIEW statement, you can leverage the power of virtual tables and enhance your SQL database’s querying capabilities.