{"id":1799,"date":"2018-09-23T05:25:53","date_gmt":"2018-09-23T12:25:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sqltutorial.org\/?page_id=1799"},"modified":"2025-01-24T00:53:51","modified_gmt":"2025-01-24T07:53:51","slug":"sql-add-column","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.sqltutorial.org\/sql-add-column\/","title":{"rendered":"SQL ADD COLUMN"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Summary<\/strong>: in this tutorial, you will learn how to use the SQL <code>ADD COLUMN<\/code> clause of the <code>ALTER TABLE<\/code> statement to add one or more columns to an existing table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id='introduction-to-sql-add-column-clause'>Introduction to SQL ADD COLUMN clause <a href=\"#introduction-to-sql-add-column-clause\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"introduction-to-sql-add-column-clause\" title=\"Anchor for Introduction to SQL ADD COLUMN clause\">#<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To add a new column to a table, you use the <code>ALTER TABLE ... ADD COLUMN<\/code> statement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here&#8217;s the basic syntax of the <code>ALTER TABLE ... ADD COLUMN<\/code> statement:<\/p>\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\" aria-describedby=\"shcb-language-1\" data-shcb-language-name=\"SQL (Structured Query Language)\" data-shcb-language-slug=\"sql\"><span><code class=\"hljs language-sql\"><span class=\"hljs-keyword\">ALTER<\/span> <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">TABLE<\/span> table_name\n<span class=\"hljs-keyword\">ADD<\/span> &#91;<span class=\"hljs-keyword\">COLUMN<\/span>] column_name datatype <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">constraint<\/span>;<\/code><\/span><small class=\"shcb-language\" id=\"shcb-language-1\"><span class=\"shcb-language__label\">Code language:<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__name\">SQL (Structured Query Language)<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">(<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__slug\">sql<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n<p>In this statement:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>First, provide the name of the table (<code>table_name<\/code>) to which you want to add the new column.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Second, specify the column&#8217;s definition after the <code>ADD COLUMN<\/code> clause.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Some databaes systems allows you to add multiple columns to an existing table once with the following syntax:<\/p>\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\" aria-describedby=\"shcb-language-2\" data-shcb-language-name=\"SQL (Structured Query Language)\" data-shcb-language-slug=\"sql\"><span><code class=\"hljs language-sql\"><span class=\"hljs-keyword\">ALTER<\/span> <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">TABLE<\/span> table_name\n<span class=\"hljs-keyword\">ADD<\/span> &#91;<span class=\"hljs-keyword\">COLUMN<\/span>] column_name datatype <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">constraint<\/span>,\n<span class=\"hljs-keyword\">ADD<\/span> &#91;<span class=\"hljs-keyword\">COLUMN<\/span>] column_name datatype <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">constraint<\/span>,\n ...;<\/code><\/span><small class=\"shcb-language\" id=\"shcb-language-2\"><span class=\"shcb-language__label\">Code language:<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__name\">SQL (Structured Query Language)<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">(<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__slug\">sql<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n<p>Different database systems support the <code>ALTER TABLE... ADD COLUMN<\/code> statement with some variances. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id='sql-add-column-examples'>SQL ADD COLUMN examples <a href=\"#sql-add-column-examples\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"sql-add-column-examples\" title=\"Anchor for SQL ADD COLUMN examples\">#<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>First, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sqltutorial.org\/sql-create-table\/\">create a new table<\/a> called <code>leave_requests<\/code>:<\/p>\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\" aria-describedby=\"shcb-language-3\" data-shcb-language-name=\"SQL (Structured Query Language)\" data-shcb-language-slug=\"sql\"><span><code class=\"hljs language-sql\"><span class=\"hljs-keyword\">CREATE<\/span> <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">TABLE<\/span> leave_requests (\n  <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">id<\/span> <span class=\"hljs-built_in\">INT<\/span> <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">GENERATED<\/span> <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">ALWAYS<\/span> <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">AS<\/span> <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">IDENTITY<\/span> PRIMARY <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">KEY<\/span>,\n  employee_id <span class=\"hljs-built_in\">INT<\/span> <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">NOT<\/span> <span class=\"hljs-literal\">NULL<\/span>,\n  start_date <span class=\"hljs-built_in\">DATE<\/span> <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">NOT<\/span> <span class=\"hljs-literal\">NULL<\/span>,\n  end_date <span class=\"hljs-built_in\">DATE<\/span> <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">NOT<\/span> <span class=\"hljs-literal\">NULL<\/span>\n);<\/code><\/span><small class=\"shcb-language\" id=\"shcb-language-3\"><span class=\"shcb-language__label\">Code language:<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__name\">SQL (Structured Query Language)<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">(<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__slug\">sql<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n<p>Second, use the <code>ALTER TABLE ... ADD COLUMN<\/code> statement to add the <code>leave_type<\/code> column to the <code>leave_requests<\/code> table:<\/p>\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\" aria-describedby=\"shcb-language-4\" data-shcb-language-name=\"SQL (Structured Query Language)\" data-shcb-language-slug=\"sql\"><span><code class=\"hljs language-sql\"><span class=\"hljs-keyword\">ALTER<\/span> <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">TABLE<\/span> leave_requests\n<span class=\"hljs-keyword\">ADD<\/span> <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">COLUMN<\/span> leave_type <span class=\"hljs-built_in\">VARCHAR<\/span>(<span class=\"hljs-number\">50<\/span>);<\/code><\/span><small class=\"shcb-language\" id=\"shcb-language-4\"><span class=\"shcb-language__label\">Code language:<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__name\">SQL (Structured Query Language)<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">(<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__slug\">sql<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n<p>Third, add two columns <code>status<\/code> and <code>requested_date<\/code> to the <code>leave_requests<\/code> table at the same time:<\/p>\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\" aria-describedby=\"shcb-language-5\" data-shcb-language-name=\"SQL (Structured Query Language)\" data-shcb-language-slug=\"sql\"><span><code class=\"hljs language-sql\"><span class=\"hljs-keyword\">ALTER<\/span> <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">TABLE<\/span> leave_requests\n<span class=\"hljs-keyword\">ADD<\/span> <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">COLUMN<\/span> <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">status<\/span> <span class=\"hljs-built_in\">VARCHAR<\/span>(<span class=\"hljs-number\">25<\/span>)\n<span class=\"hljs-keyword\">ADD<\/span> <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">COLUMN<\/span> requested_date <span class=\"hljs-built_in\">DATE<\/span>;<\/code><\/span><small class=\"shcb-language\" id=\"shcb-language-5\"><span class=\"shcb-language__label\">Code language:<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__name\">SQL (Structured Query Language)<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">(<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__slug\">sql<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id='summary'>Summary <a href=\"#summary\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"summary\" title=\"Anchor for Summary\">#<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Use the <code>ALTER TABLE ... ADD COLUMN<\/code> statement to add a new column to an existing table.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id='databases'>Databases <a href=\"#databases\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"databases\" title=\"Anchor for Databases\">#<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pgtutorial.com\/postgresql-tutorial\/postgresql-alter-table-add-column\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">PostgreSQL ALTER TABLE &#8230; ADD COLUMN Statement<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.oracletutorial.com\/oracle-basics\/oracle-basicsoracle-alter-table-add-column\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Oracle ALTER TABLE &#8230; ADD COLUMN Statement<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sqlservertutorial.net\/sql-server-basics\/sql-server-alter-table-add-column\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SQL Server ALTER TABLE &#8230; ADD COLUMN Statement<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mysqltutorial.org\/mysql-basics\/mysql-add-column\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">MySQL ALTER TABLE &#8230; ADD COLUMN Statement<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.db2tutorial.com\/db2-basics\/db2-alter-table-add-column\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Db2 ALTER TABLE &#8230; ADD COLUMN Statement<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id='quiz'>Quiz <a href=\"#quiz\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"quiz\" title=\"Anchor for Quiz\">#<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\"\n  name=\"quiz\"\n  src=\"\/quiz\/?quiz=add-column\"\n  height=\"700\"\n  width=\"600\"\n  class=\"iframe\"\n><\/iframe>\n\n\n<div class=\"helpful-block-content\" data-title=\"\">\n\t<header>\n\t\t<div class=\"wth-question\">Was this tutorial helpful ?<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wth-thumbs\">\n\t\t\t<button\n\t\t\t\tdata-post=\"1799\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-post-url=\"https:\/\/www.sqltutorial.org\/sql-add-column\/\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-post-title=\"SQL ADD COLUMN\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-response=\"1\"\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"wth-btn-rounded wth-yes-btn\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<svg\n\t\t\t\t\txmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"\n\t\t\t\t\tviewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"\n\t\t\t\t\tfill=\"none\"\n\t\t\t\t\tstroke=\"currentColor\"\n\t\t\t\t\tstroke-width=\"2\"\n\t\t\t\t\tstroke-linecap=\"round\"\n\t\t\t\t\tstroke-linejoin=\"round\"\n\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"feather feather-thumbs-up block w-full h-full\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t<path\n\t\t\t\t\t\td=\"M14 9V5a3 3 0 0 0-3-3l-4 9v11h11.28a2 2 0 0 0 2-1.7l1.38-9a2 2 0 0 0-2-2.3zM7 22H4a2 2 0 0 1-2-2v-7a2 2 0 0 1 2-2h3\"\n\t\t\t\t\t><\/path>\n\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sr-only\"> Yes <\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t\t<button\n\t\t\t\tdata-response=\"0\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-post=\"1799\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-post-url=\"https:\/\/www.sqltutorial.org\/sql-add-column\/\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-post-title=\"SQL ADD COLUMN\"\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"wth-btn-rounded wth-no-btn\"\n\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<svg\n\t\t\t\t\txmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"\n\t\t\t\t\tviewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"\n\t\t\t\t\tfill=\"none\"\n\t\t\t\t\tstroke=\"currentColor\"\n\t\t\t\t\tstroke-width=\"2\"\n\t\t\t\t\tstroke-linecap=\"round\"\n\t\t\t\t\tstroke-linejoin=\"round\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t<path\n\t\t\t\t\t\td=\"M10 15v4a3 3 0 0 0 3 3l4-9V2H5.72a2 2 0 0 0-2 1.7l-1.38 9a2 2 0 0 0 2 2.3zm7-13h2.67A2.31 2.31 0 0 1 22 4v7a2.31 2.31 0 0 1-2.33 2H17\"\n\t\t\t\t\t><\/path>\n\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sr-only\"> No <\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/header>\n\n\t<div class=\"wth-form hidden\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wth-form-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wth-title\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<textarea class=\"wth-message\"><\/textarea>\n\n\t\t\t<button class=\"btn btn-primary wth-btn-submit\">Send<\/button>\n\t\t\t<button class=\"btn wth-btn-cancel\">Cancel<\/button>\n\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This tutorial shows you how to use the SQL ALTER TABLE &#8230; ADD COLUMN statement to add one or more columns to an existing table.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":41,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1799","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How to Add a New Column to a Table in SQL<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"This tutorial shows you how to use the SQL ALTER TABLE ... 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