SQL SELECT AS

The SQL SELECT AS clause, also known as column aliasing, offers a powerful tool for enhancing the readability and usability of query results. By assigning temporary labels or aliases to columns or expressions within a SELECT statement, developers can create more intuitive and descriptive output.

With SELECT AS, you can transform the appearance of your query results, making them easier to understand for both developers and end-users. Whether you’re simplifying complex column names, aggregating data, or performing calculations, aliases provide a concise and meaningful representation of your data.

• SQL ‘AS’ is used to assign a new name temporarily to a table column or even a table.
• It makes an easy presentation of query results and allows the developer to label results more accurately without permanently renaming table columns or even the table itself.

Syntax

SELECT Column_Name1 AS New_Column_Name, Column_Name2  As New_Column_name;

EXAMPLES OF SQL SELECT AS

1. Basic Alias for Column:

Consider a table named Employees with columns employee_id, first_name, and last_name. We want to select the first_name and last_name columns, but we want to rename first_name as First and last_name as Last for clarity.

\SELECT first_name AS First, last_name AS Last
FROM Employees;

Output

First	           Last
John	            Doe
Alice	           Smith
Bob	             Johnson
Emily	            Brown

2. Alias for Calculated Field

Let’s say we have a table named Orders with columns order_id, product_name, unit_price, and quantity. We want to calculate the total price for each order (unit_price * quantity) and display it as TotalPrice

SELECT order_id, product_name, unit_price, quantity, (unit_price * quantity) AS TotalPrice
FROM Orders;

Output

order_id	product_name	unit_price	quantity	TotalPrice
1	         Product A       10.00	     2	      20.00
2	         Product B	    15.00       	3	      45.00
3	         Product C	    20.00	       1	       20.00...	...	...	...	...

3. Alias for Concatenated Columns

Suppose we have a table named Students with columns first_name and last_name. We want to concatenate first_name and last_name together and display it as FullName

SELECT first_name, last_name, CONCAT(first_name, ' ', last_name) AS FullName
FROM Students;

Output

first_name	    last_name	    FullName
John	           Doe	         John Doe
Alice	           Smith	       Alice Smith
Bob	             Johnson	     Bob Johnson
Emily	           Brown	       Emily Brown...	...	...

Conclusion

In conclusion, the SQL SELECT AS clause offers a valuable means to enhance the readability and usability of query results. By providing aliases for columns, expressions, or computed fields within a SELECT statement, developers can create more intuitive and descriptive output, facilitating better understanding for both developers and end-users.

Throughout this exploration, we’ve seen how SELECT AS allows for the transformation of query results, enabling a clearer representation of data. Whether simplifying complex column names, aggregating data, or performing calculations, aliases provide a concise and meaningful depiction of information.

By leveraging SQL SELECT AS, developers can streamline their SQL development processes, improving the clarity and effectiveness of database interactions. This feature not only aids in conveying information effectively but also enhances the maintainability and comprehensibility of SQL codebases.

In essence, SQL SELECT AS empowers developers to present data in a more structured, understandable, and user-friendly manner, ultimately contributing to more efficient and productive database management and analysis.

Frequently Asked Questions