In SQL data manipulation, which statement is used to add (append) one or more new rows into an existing table?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: INSERT

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
CRUD operations (Create, Read, Update, Delete) are the backbone of relational data work. Knowing which SQL statement adds new tuples (rows) to a table is essential for application development, ETL jobs, and ad hoc data loading tasks across all RDBMS platforms.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • A target table already exists with defined columns.
  • We intend to add one or multiple rows to it.
  • We seek the standard SQL command name, not vendor-specific aliases.


Concept / Approach:

The SQL statement for adding new rows is INSERT. Syntax variants include INSERT INTO table (col1, col2) VALUES (...), or INSERT INTO table SELECT ... to insert multiple rows from a query. Other verbs like ALTER TABLE modify schema, not data, and APPEND/ADD ROW are not standard SQL keywords even if some tools use similar wording in their GUIs.


Step-by-Step Solution:

Identify the intended operation: create new row(s) in an existing table.Map to the SQL DML verb: INSERT.Recall syntax for single-row and multi-row inserts.Confirm that other listed verbs alter schema or are non-standard.


Verification / Alternative check:

All major RDBMS document INSERT as the standard for adding rows, ensuring portability of scripts and applications.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

ALTER TABLE: Changes table definition, not content.

APPEND / ADD ROW: Not standard SQL keywords.

None: Incorrect because INSERT is the correct standard statement.


Common Pitfalls:

Forgetting to list columns, causing column-order mismatches; neglecting NOT NULL or constraint requirements during INSERT.


Final Answer:

INSERT

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