5 Essential SQLite Commands Every Developer Should Know

SQLite is one of the most widely used database engines in the world. Whether you're building a mobile app, a desktop application, or a simple website, knowing these five essential SQLite commands will help you manage your database more efficiently.

1. CREATE TABLE - Building Your Database Foundation

The first command every SQLite developer should master is CREATE TABLE. This command allows you to define the structure of your database tables, specifying column names, data types, and constraints.

CREATE TABLE users (
  id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY AUTOINCREMENT,
  username TEXT NOT NULL UNIQUE,
  email TEXT NOT NULL UNIQUE,
  password TEXT NOT NULL,
  created_at TIMESTAMP DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP
);

This example creates a table named "users" with columns for ID, username, email, password, and a timestamp for when the record was created.

2. INSERT INTO - Adding Data to Your Tables

Once you have created your tables, you'll need to add data to them. The INSERT INTO command allows you to add new records to your tables.

INSERT INTO users (username, email, password)
VALUES ('johndoe', 'john@example.com', 'hashed_password_here');

This command inserts a new record into the users table with the specified username, email, and password.

3. SELECT - Retrieving Data from Your Database

The SELECT command is perhaps the most commonly used SQLite command. It allows you to retrieve data from your database tables.

-- Basic SELECT statement
SELECT * FROM users;

-- SELECT with conditions
SELECT username, email FROM users WHERE id = 1;

-- SELECT with sorting
SELECT * FROM users ORDER BY created_at DESC;

These examples show how to retrieve all records from the users table, how to select specific columns with a condition, and how to sort the results.

4. UPDATE - Modifying Existing Data

The UPDATE command allows you to modify existing records in your database tables.

UPDATE users
SET email = 'new_email@example.com'
WHERE username = 'johndoe';

This command updates the email address for the user with the username 'johndoe'.

5. DELETE - Removing Data from Your Tables

Finally, the DELETE command allows you to remove records from your database tables.

DELETE FROM users
WHERE id = 1;

This command deletes the user with the ID of 1 from the users table.

Conclusion

Mastering these five essential SQLite commands will give you a solid foundation for managing your database. As you become more comfortable with these commands, you can explore more advanced features of SQLite, such as joins, subqueries, and transactions.

Ready to practice these commands? Try them out in our free online SQLite editor!