How to Copy Table to Another Table in SQL
Last Updated : 09 Jan, 2025
Copying data from one table to another is a common task in SQL whether we are migrating data by creating backups or simply duplicating a table's structure and content for further use.
In this article, we'll explore several ways to copy a table to another table in SQL Server including copying both the structure and data, just the data and how to handle specific conditions.
Ways to Copy a Table to another Table in SQL
Let's learn various ways to copy a table in SQL and the method we choose depends on our requirements such as whether we need to copy both the structure and the data or just the data are defined below:
Method 1: Copying Both Structure and Data
To copy both the structure (columns and data types) and the data we can use the SELECT INTO statement. This will create a new table and copy all data from the source table.
Example: Suppose we have an Employees table and we want to copy the Employees table to Employees_Copy Table:
SELECT * INTO Employees_Copy
FROM Employees;
Output:
outputExplanation: This query creates a new table called Employees_Copy that mirrors the structure and data of the existing Employees table. The new table will have the same columns, data types, and data.
Method 2: Copying Data into an Existing Table
If we want to copy data into an existing table, we can use the INSERT INTO statement. This works when the destination table already exists.
Code Example:
INSERT INTO Employees_Copy
SELECT * FROM Employees;
Output (After Execution):
outputExplanation: This query copies all rows from the Employees table into the already existing Employees_Copy table. The columns of both tables should match in number and type.
Method 3: Copying Data with Conditions (WHERE Clause)
We can copy only specific rows using a WHERE clause in the SELECT statement. This helps you filter the rows to copy based on conditions.
Code Example:
INSERT INTO Employees_Copy
SELECT * FROM Employees
WHERE Age > 40;
Output:
output
Explanation: This query copies only the rows where Age is greater than 40 from the Employees table into the Employees_Copy table. For example, if Bob (Age 45) is the only person who matches the condition, only Bob will be copied.
Method 4: Copying Specific Columns
If we don't want to copy all columns, you can specify which columns to copy. This is useful when we want only certain data from the source table.
Code Example:
INSERT INTO Employees_Copy (EmployeeID, FirstName, LastName)
SELECT EmployeeID, FirstName, LastName
FROM Employees;
Output:
outputExplanation: In this example, only the EmployeeID, FirstName, and LastName columns are copied from the Employees table into the Employees_Copy table. The Age column is excluded.
Method 5: Copying Table Structure Without Data
To copy only the structure of a table (without any data), you can use a WHERE clause that evaluates to false, ensuring that no rows are copied.
Code Example:
SELECT * INTO Employees_Copy
FROM Employees
WHERE 1 = 0;
Output:
outputExplanation:
- The condition WHERE 1 = 0 is always false, so no data is copied. However, the structure of the Employees table is copied, including columns and data types, to Employees_Copy.
- The new Employees_Copy table will have the same structure as Employees but without any data.
Conclusion
In SQL Server, there are multiple ways to copy a table depending on the task at hand. The `SELECT INTO` statement can be used to copy both the structure and data of a table, while the `INSERT INTO` statement allows copying data into an existing table. For more specific copying, conditions can be applied using the `WHERE` clause by enabling the selection of particular rows or columns to copy. Additionally, copying only the table structure (without data) is possible by using a condition that always evaluates to false. These methods provide flexibility for data migration, backup or table duplication.
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