Last Updated : 23 Jul, 2025
The SQL CREATE VIEW statement is a very powerful feature in RDBMSs that allows users to create virtual tables based on the result set of a SQL query. Unlike regular tables, these views do not store data themselves rather they provide a way of dynamically retrieving and presenting data from one or many underlying tables.
This article explains how the SQL CREATE VIEW statement can be used to create, modify, and drop views, along with their pros and cons. It also provides practical examples of how database management can involve customized report generation, enforcing access control, and simplifying complex structures.
SQL CREATE VIEW StatementThe SQL CREATE VIEW statement is the central idea used to create a virtual table that does not store data itself but rather provides a dynamic representation of data obtained from one or more underlying tables. This arrangement lets users simplify intricate queries, improve security, and make abstracted data structures easy to access and manipulate.
Syntax:
The syntax to create a view in sql is as follows:
CREATE VIEW view_name AS
SELECT column1, column2, ...
FROM table_name
WHERE condition;
Explanation of Syntax:
The CREATE VIEW
statement in SQL is used to create a virtual table based on the result of a query. Views help simplify complex queries and enhance security by restricting access to specific columns or rows.
Consider the table products having three columns product_id, product_name, and price. Suppose we have to create a view that contains only products whose prices are greater than $50.
Query:
CREATE VIEW expensive_products AS
SELECT product_id, product_name, price
FROM products
WHERE price > 100;
products Table:
products tableexpensive_products View:
product_id product_name price 1 Laptop 800 2 Smartphone 600 3 Tablet 120 5 Monitor 200Explanation:
Assume that we have two tables employees and departments. We need to build a view combining information about both tables in order to show each employee’s name along with their department name:
Query:
CREATE VIEW employee_department_info AS
SELECT e.employee_id, e.first_name, e.last_name, d.department_name
FROM employees e
JOIN departments d ON e.department_id = d.department_id;
Employees table:
employees tableDepartments table:
departments tableemployee_department_info view:
Output of the employee_department_info viewExplanation:
Now when querying the employee_department_info view we shall have a list of employees together with their corresponding department names.
ConclusionIn conclusion, the SQL CREATE VIEW statement is a useful resource for those in database development and administration because it creates virtual tables that provide simplified access to data stored in one or more underlying tables. The views encapsulate complex queries, control data access, and abstract the data structures enhancing the performance of Database Management Systems (DBMS), security, and manageability.
Therefore, by using views properly developers can avoid writing unnecessary code enhance query execution time, and finally make sure that their databases have a higher level of security when processing errors appear. View mastering is important in improving efficiency and effectiveness during database management tasks regardless of whether you are operating small-scale applications or significant enterprise databases.
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