A Level Computer Science OCR Practice Exam

What do the SQL VALUES specify in an INSERT statement?

1. The name of the table being modified

2. The new values to be inserted

3. The conditions for selecting records

4. The fields to be updated

The correct answer is: The new values to be inserted

The SQL VALUES clause specifically defines the new values that are to be inserted into the table with an INSERT statement. This is a critical part of the command because it tells the database exactly what data is being added. When using an INSERT statement, you typically state the table name and then list the values that correspond to the columns of that table in the VALUES part. For example, in an INSERT statement such as `INSERT INTO employees (name, age) VALUES ('John Doe', 30);`, the VALUES part specifies that 'John Doe' should be added as the name and 30 as the age for a new employee record. This clarity in specifying new data is essential for ensuring accurate and successful data insertion.