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+<!--
+doc/src/sgml/ref/insert.sgml
+PostgreSQL documentation
+-->
+
+<refentry id="sql-insert">
+ <indexterm zone="sql-insert">
+ <primary>INSERT</primary>
+ </indexterm>
+
+ <refmeta>
+ <refentrytitle>INSERT</refentrytitle>
+ <manvolnum>7</manvolnum>
+ <refmiscinfo>SQL - Language Statements</refmiscinfo>
+ </refmeta>
+
+ <refnamediv>
+ <refname>INSERT</refname>
+ <refpurpose>create new rows in a table</refpurpose>
+ </refnamediv>
+
+ <refsynopsisdiv>
+<synopsis>
+[ WITH [ RECURSIVE ] <replaceable class="parameter">with_query</replaceable> [, ...] ]
+INSERT INTO <replaceable class="parameter">table_name</replaceable> [ AS <replaceable class="parameter">alias</replaceable> ] [ ( <replaceable class="parameter">column_name</replaceable> [, ...] ) ]
+ [ OVERRIDING { SYSTEM | USER } VALUE ]
+ { DEFAULT VALUES | VALUES ( { <replaceable class="parameter">expression</replaceable> | DEFAULT } [, ...] ) [, ...] | <replaceable class="parameter">query</replaceable> }
+ [ ON CONFLICT [ <replaceable class="parameter">conflict_target</replaceable> ] <replaceable class="parameter">conflict_action</replaceable> ]
+ [ RETURNING * | <replaceable class="parameter">output_expression</replaceable> [ [ AS ] <replaceable class="parameter">output_name</replaceable> ] [, ...] ]
+
+<phrase>where <replaceable class="parameter">conflict_target</replaceable> can be one of:</phrase>
+
+ ( { <replaceable class="parameter">index_column_name</replaceable> | ( <replaceable class="parameter">index_expression</replaceable> ) } [ COLLATE <replaceable class="parameter">collation</replaceable> ] [ <replaceable class="parameter">opclass</replaceable> ] [, ...] ) [ WHERE <replaceable class="parameter">index_predicate</replaceable> ]
+ ON CONSTRAINT <replaceable class="parameter">constraint_name</replaceable>
+
+<phrase>and <replaceable class="parameter">conflict_action</replaceable> is one of:</phrase>
+
+ DO NOTHING
+ DO UPDATE SET { <replaceable class="parameter">column_name</replaceable> = { <replaceable class="parameter">expression</replaceable> | DEFAULT } |
+ ( <replaceable class="parameter">column_name</replaceable> [, ...] ) = [ ROW ] ( { <replaceable class="parameter">expression</replaceable> | DEFAULT } [, ...] ) |
+ ( <replaceable class="parameter">column_name</replaceable> [, ...] ) = ( <replaceable class="parameter">sub-SELECT</replaceable> )
+ } [, ...]
+ [ WHERE <replaceable class="parameter">condition</replaceable> ]
+</synopsis>
+ </refsynopsisdiv>
+
+ <refsect1>
+ <title>Description</title>
+
+ <para>
+ <command>INSERT</command> inserts new rows into a table.
+ One can insert one or more rows specified by value expressions,
+ or zero or more rows resulting from a query.
+ </para>
+
+ <para>
+ The target column names can be listed in any order. If no list of
+ column names is given at all, the default is all the columns of the
+ table in their declared order; or the first <replaceable>N</replaceable> column
+ names, if there are only <replaceable>N</replaceable> columns supplied by the
+ <literal>VALUES</literal> clause or <replaceable>query</replaceable>. The values
+ supplied by the <literal>VALUES</literal> clause or <replaceable>query</replaceable> are
+ associated with the explicit or implicit column list left-to-right.
+ </para>
+
+ <para>
+ Each column not present in the explicit or implicit column list will be
+ filled with a default value, either its declared default value
+ or null if there is none.
+ </para>
+
+ <para>
+ If the expression for any column is not of the correct data type,
+ automatic type conversion will be attempted.
+ </para>
+
+ <para>
+ <command>INSERT</command> into tables that lack unique indexes will
+ not be blocked by concurrent activity. Tables with unique indexes
+ might block if concurrent sessions perform actions that lock or modify
+ rows matching the unique index values being inserted; the details
+ are covered in <xref linkend="index-unique-checks"/>.
+ <literal>ON CONFLICT</literal> can be used to specify an alternative
+ action to raising a unique constraint or exclusion constraint
+ violation error. (See <xref linkend="sql-on-conflict"/> below.)
+ </para>
+
+ <para>
+ The optional <literal>RETURNING</literal> clause causes <command>INSERT</command>
+ to compute and return value(s) based on each row actually inserted
+ (or updated, if an <literal>ON CONFLICT DO UPDATE</literal> clause was
+ used). This is primarily useful for obtaining values that were
+ supplied by defaults, such as a serial sequence number. However,
+ any expression using the table's columns is allowed. The syntax of
+ the <literal>RETURNING</literal> list is identical to that of the output
+ list of <command>SELECT</command>. Only rows that were successfully
+ inserted or updated will be returned. For example, if a row was
+ locked but not updated because an <literal>ON CONFLICT DO UPDATE
+ ... WHERE</literal> clause <replaceable
+ class="parameter">condition</replaceable> was not satisfied, the
+ row will not be returned.
+ </para>
+
+ <para>
+ You must have <literal>INSERT</literal> privilege on a table in
+ order to insert into it. If <literal>ON CONFLICT DO UPDATE</literal> is
+ present, <literal>UPDATE</literal> privilege on the table is also
+ required.
+ </para>
+
+ <para>
+ If a column list is specified, you only need
+ <literal>INSERT</literal> privilege on the listed columns.
+ Similarly, when <literal>ON CONFLICT DO UPDATE</literal> is specified, you
+ only need <literal>UPDATE</literal> privilege on the column(s) that are
+ listed to be updated. However, <literal>ON CONFLICT DO UPDATE</literal>
+ also requires <literal>SELECT</literal> privilege on any column whose
+ values are read in the <literal>ON CONFLICT DO UPDATE</literal>
+ expressions or <replaceable>condition</replaceable>.
+ </para>
+
+ <para>
+ Use of the <literal>RETURNING</literal> clause requires <literal>SELECT</literal>
+ privilege on all columns mentioned in <literal>RETURNING</literal>.
+ If you use the <replaceable
+ class="parameter">query</replaceable> clause to insert rows from a
+ query, you of course need to have <literal>SELECT</literal> privilege on
+ any table or column used in the query.
+ </para>
+ </refsect1>
+
+ <refsect1>
+ <title>Parameters</title>
+
+ <refsect2>
+ <title>Inserting</title>
+
+ <para>
+ This section covers parameters that may be used when only
+ inserting new rows. Parameters <emphasis>exclusively</emphasis>
+ used with the <literal>ON CONFLICT</literal> clause are described
+ separately.
+ </para>
+
+ <variablelist>
+ <varlistentry>
+ <term><replaceable class="parameter">with_query</replaceable></term>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ The <literal>WITH</literal> clause allows you to specify one or more
+ subqueries that can be referenced by name in the <command>INSERT</command>
+ query. See <xref linkend="queries-with"/> and <xref linkend="sql-select"/>
+ for details.
+ </para>
+ <para>
+ It is possible for the <replaceable class="parameter">query</replaceable>
+ (<command>SELECT</command> statement)
+ to also contain a <literal>WITH</literal> clause. In such a case both
+ sets of <replaceable>with_query</replaceable> can be referenced within
+ the <replaceable class="parameter">query</replaceable>, but the
+ second one takes precedence since it is more closely nested.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ </varlistentry>
+
+ <varlistentry>
+ <term><replaceable class="parameter">table_name</replaceable></term>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ The name (optionally schema-qualified) of an existing table.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ </varlistentry>
+
+ <varlistentry>
+ <term><replaceable class="parameter">alias</replaceable></term>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ A substitute name for <replaceable
+ class="parameter">table_name</replaceable>. When an alias is
+ provided, it completely hides the actual name of the table.
+ This is particularly useful when <literal>ON CONFLICT DO UPDATE</literal>
+ targets a table named <varname>excluded</varname>, since that will otherwise
+ be taken as the name of the special table representing the row proposed
+ for insertion.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ </varlistentry>
+
+
+ <varlistentry>
+ <term><replaceable class="parameter">column_name</replaceable></term>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ The name of a column in the table named by <replaceable
+ class="parameter">table_name</replaceable>. The column name
+ can be qualified with a subfield name or array subscript, if
+ needed. (Inserting into only some fields of a composite
+ column leaves the other fields null.) When referencing a
+ column with <literal>ON CONFLICT DO UPDATE</literal>, do not include
+ the table's name in the specification of a target column. For
+ example, <literal>INSERT INTO table_name ... ON CONFLICT DO UPDATE
+ SET table_name.col = 1</literal> is invalid (this follows the general
+ behavior for <command>UPDATE</command>).
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ </varlistentry>
+
+ <varlistentry>
+ <term><literal>OVERRIDING SYSTEM VALUE</literal></term>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ If this clause is specified, then any values supplied for identity
+ columns will override the default sequence-generated values.
+ </para>
+
+ <para>
+ For an identity column defined as <literal>GENERATED ALWAYS</literal>,
+ it is an error to insert an explicit value (other than
+ <literal>DEFAULT</literal>) without specifying either
+ <literal>OVERRIDING SYSTEM VALUE</literal> or <literal>OVERRIDING USER
+ VALUE</literal>. (For an identity column defined as
+ <literal>GENERATED BY DEFAULT</literal>, <literal>OVERRIDING SYSTEM
+ VALUE</literal> is the normal behavior and specifying it does nothing,
+ but <productname>PostgreSQL</productname> allows it as an extension.)
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ </varlistentry>
+
+ <varlistentry>
+ <term><literal>OVERRIDING USER VALUE</literal></term>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ If this clause is specified, then any values supplied for identity
+ columns are ignored and the default sequence-generated values are
+ applied.
+ </para>
+
+ <para>
+ This clause is useful for example when copying values between tables.
+ Writing <literal>INSERT INTO tbl2 OVERRIDING USER VALUE SELECT * FROM
+ tbl1</literal> will copy from <literal>tbl1</literal> all columns that
+ are not identity columns in <literal>tbl2</literal> while values for
+ the identity columns in <literal>tbl2</literal> will be generated by
+ the sequences associated with <literal>tbl2</literal>.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ </varlistentry>
+
+ <varlistentry>
+ <term><literal>DEFAULT VALUES</literal></term>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ All columns will be filled with their default values, as if
+ <literal>DEFAULT</literal> were explicitly specified for each column.
+ (An <literal>OVERRIDING</literal> clause is not permitted in this
+ form.)
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ </varlistentry>
+
+ <varlistentry>
+ <term><replaceable class="parameter">expression</replaceable></term>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ An expression or value to assign to the corresponding column.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ </varlistentry>
+
+ <varlistentry>
+ <term><literal>DEFAULT</literal></term>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ The corresponding column will be filled with its default value. An
+ identity column will be filled with a new value generated by the
+ associated sequence. For a generated column, specifying this is
+ permitted but merely specifies the normal behavior of computing the
+ column from its generation expression.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ </varlistentry>
+
+ <varlistentry>
+ <term><replaceable class="parameter">query</replaceable></term>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ A query (<command>SELECT</command> statement) that supplies the
+ rows to be inserted. Refer to the
+ <xref linkend="sql-select"/>
+ statement for a description of the syntax.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ </varlistentry>
+
+ <varlistentry>
+ <term><replaceable class="parameter">output_expression</replaceable></term>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ An expression to be computed and returned by the
+ <command>INSERT</command> command after each row is inserted or
+ updated. The expression can use any column names of the table
+ named by <replaceable
+ class="parameter">table_name</replaceable>. Write
+ <literal>*</literal> to return all columns of the inserted or updated
+ row(s).
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ </varlistentry>
+
+ <varlistentry>
+ <term><replaceable class="parameter">output_name</replaceable></term>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ A name to use for a returned column.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ </varlistentry>
+ </variablelist>
+ </refsect2>
+
+ <refsect2 id="sql-on-conflict" xreflabel="ON CONFLICT Clause">
+ <title><literal>ON CONFLICT</literal> Clause</title>
+ <indexterm zone="sql-insert">
+ <primary>UPSERT</primary>
+ </indexterm>
+ <indexterm zone="sql-insert">
+ <primary>ON CONFLICT</primary>
+ </indexterm>
+ <para>
+ The optional <literal>ON CONFLICT</literal> clause specifies an
+ alternative action to raising a unique violation or exclusion
+ constraint violation error. For each individual row proposed for
+ insertion, either the insertion proceeds, or, if an
+ <emphasis>arbiter</emphasis> constraint or index specified by
+ <parameter>conflict_target</parameter> is violated, the
+ alternative <parameter>conflict_action</parameter> is taken.
+ <literal>ON CONFLICT DO NOTHING</literal> simply avoids inserting
+ a row as its alternative action. <literal>ON CONFLICT DO
+ UPDATE</literal> updates the existing row that conflicts with the
+ row proposed for insertion as its alternative action.
+ </para>
+
+ <para>
+ <parameter>conflict_target</parameter> can perform
+ <emphasis>unique index inference</emphasis>. When performing
+ inference, it consists of one or more <replaceable
+ class="parameter">index_column_name</replaceable> columns and/or
+ <replaceable class="parameter">index_expression</replaceable>
+ expressions, and an optional <replaceable class="parameter">index_predicate</replaceable>. All <replaceable
+ class="parameter">table_name</replaceable> unique indexes that,
+ without regard to order, contain exactly the
+ <parameter>conflict_target</parameter>-specified
+ columns/expressions are inferred (chosen) as arbiter indexes. If
+ an <replaceable class="parameter">index_predicate</replaceable> is
+ specified, it must, as a further requirement for inference,
+ satisfy arbiter indexes. Note that this means a non-partial
+ unique index (a unique index without a predicate) will be inferred
+ (and thus used by <literal>ON CONFLICT</literal>) if such an index
+ satisfying every other criteria is available. If an attempt at
+ inference is unsuccessful, an error is raised.
+ </para>
+
+ <para>
+ <literal>ON CONFLICT DO UPDATE</literal> guarantees an atomic
+ <command>INSERT</command> or <command>UPDATE</command> outcome;
+ provided there is no independent error, one of those two outcomes
+ is guaranteed, even under high concurrency. This is also known as
+ <firstterm>UPSERT</firstterm> &mdash; <quote>UPDATE or
+ INSERT</quote>.
+ </para>
+
+ <variablelist>
+ <varlistentry>
+ <term><replaceable class="parameter">conflict_target</replaceable></term>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ Specifies which conflicts <literal>ON CONFLICT</literal> takes
+ the alternative action on by choosing <firstterm>arbiter
+ indexes</firstterm>. Either performs <emphasis>unique index
+ inference</emphasis>, or names a constraint explicitly. For
+ <literal>ON CONFLICT DO NOTHING</literal>, it is optional to
+ specify a <parameter>conflict_target</parameter>; when
+ omitted, conflicts with all usable constraints (and unique
+ indexes) are handled. For <literal>ON CONFLICT DO
+ UPDATE</literal>, a <parameter>conflict_target</parameter>
+ <emphasis>must</emphasis> be provided.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ </varlistentry>
+
+ <varlistentry>
+ <term><replaceable class="parameter">conflict_action</replaceable></term>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ <parameter>conflict_action</parameter> specifies an
+ alternative <literal>ON CONFLICT</literal> action. It can be
+ either <literal>DO NOTHING</literal>, or a <literal>DO
+ UPDATE</literal> clause specifying the exact details of the
+ <literal>UPDATE</literal> action to be performed in case of a
+ conflict. The <literal>SET</literal> and
+ <literal>WHERE</literal> clauses in <literal>ON CONFLICT DO
+ UPDATE</literal> have access to the existing row using the
+ table's name (or an alias), and to the row proposed for insertion
+ using the special <varname>excluded</varname> table.
+ <literal>SELECT</literal> privilege is required on any column in the
+ target table where corresponding <varname>excluded</varname>
+ columns are read.
+ </para>
+ <para>
+ Note that the effects of all per-row <literal>BEFORE
+ INSERT</literal> triggers are reflected in
+ <varname>excluded</varname> values, since those effects may
+ have contributed to the row being excluded from insertion.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ </varlistentry>
+
+ <varlistentry>
+ <term><replaceable class="parameter">index_column_name</replaceable></term>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ The name of a <replaceable
+ class="parameter">table_name</replaceable> column. Used to
+ infer arbiter indexes. Follows <command>CREATE
+ INDEX</command> format. <literal>SELECT</literal> privilege on
+ <replaceable class="parameter">index_column_name</replaceable>
+ is required.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ </varlistentry>
+
+ <varlistentry>
+ <term><replaceable class="parameter">index_expression</replaceable></term>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ Similar to <replaceable
+ class="parameter">index_column_name</replaceable>, but used to
+ infer expressions on <replaceable
+ class="parameter">table_name</replaceable> columns appearing
+ within index definitions (not simple columns). Follows
+ <command>CREATE INDEX</command> format. <literal>SELECT</literal>
+ privilege on any column appearing within <replaceable
+ class="parameter">index_expression</replaceable> is required.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ </varlistentry>
+
+ <varlistentry>
+ <term><replaceable class="parameter">collation</replaceable></term>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ When specified, mandates that corresponding <replaceable
+ class="parameter">index_column_name</replaceable> or
+ <replaceable class="parameter">index_expression</replaceable>
+ use a particular collation in order to be matched during
+ inference. Typically this is omitted, as collations usually
+ do not affect whether or not a constraint violation occurs.
+ Follows <command>CREATE INDEX</command> format.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ </varlistentry>
+
+ <varlistentry>
+ <term><replaceable class="parameter">opclass</replaceable></term>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ When specified, mandates that corresponding <replaceable
+ class="parameter">index_column_name</replaceable> or
+ <replaceable class="parameter">index_expression</replaceable>
+ use particular operator class in order to be matched during
+ inference. Typically this is omitted, as the
+ <emphasis>equality</emphasis> semantics are often equivalent
+ across a type's operator classes anyway, or because it's
+ sufficient to trust that the defined unique indexes have the
+ pertinent definition of equality. Follows <command>CREATE
+ INDEX</command> format.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ </varlistentry>
+
+ <varlistentry>
+ <term><replaceable class="parameter">index_predicate</replaceable></term>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ Used to allow inference of partial unique indexes. Any
+ indexes that satisfy the predicate (which need not actually be
+ partial indexes) can be inferred. Follows <command>CREATE
+ INDEX</command> format. <literal>SELECT</literal> privilege on any
+ column appearing within <replaceable
+ class="parameter">index_predicate</replaceable> is required.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ </varlistentry>
+
+ <varlistentry>
+ <term><replaceable class="parameter">constraint_name</replaceable></term>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ Explicitly specifies an arbiter
+ <emphasis>constraint</emphasis> by name, rather than inferring
+ a constraint or index.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ </varlistentry>
+
+ <varlistentry>
+ <term><replaceable class="parameter">condition</replaceable></term>
+ <listitem>
+ <para>
+ An expression that returns a value of type
+ <type>boolean</type>. Only rows for which this expression
+ returns <literal>true</literal> will be updated, although all
+ rows will be locked when the <literal>ON CONFLICT DO UPDATE</literal>
+ action is taken. Note that
+ <replaceable>condition</replaceable> is evaluated last, after
+ a conflict has been identified as a candidate to update.
+ </para>
+ </listitem>
+ </varlistentry>
+ </variablelist>
+ <para>
+ Note that exclusion constraints are not supported as arbiters with
+ <literal>ON CONFLICT DO UPDATE</literal>. In all cases, only
+ <literal>NOT DEFERRABLE</literal> constraints and unique indexes
+ are supported as arbiters.
+ </para>
+
+ <para>
+ <command>INSERT</command> with an <literal>ON CONFLICT DO UPDATE</literal>
+ clause is a <quote>deterministic</quote> statement. This means
+ that the command will not be allowed to affect any single existing
+ row more than once; a cardinality violation error will be raised
+ when this situation arises. Rows proposed for insertion should
+ not duplicate each other in terms of attributes constrained by an
+ arbiter index or constraint.
+ </para>
+
+ <para>
+ Note that it is currently not supported for the
+ <literal>ON CONFLICT DO UPDATE</literal> clause of an
+ <command>INSERT</command> applied to a partitioned table to update the
+ partition key of a conflicting row such that it requires the row be moved
+ to a new partition.
+ </para>
+ <tip>
+ <para>
+ It is often preferable to use unique index inference rather than
+ naming a constraint directly using <literal>ON CONFLICT ON
+ CONSTRAINT</literal> <replaceable class="parameter">
+ constraint_name</replaceable>. Inference will continue to work
+ correctly when the underlying index is replaced by another more
+ or less equivalent index in an overlapping way, for example when
+ using <literal>CREATE UNIQUE INDEX ... CONCURRENTLY</literal>
+ before dropping the index being replaced.
+ </para>
+ </tip>
+
+ </refsect2>
+ </refsect1>
+
+ <refsect1>
+ <title>Outputs</title>
+
+ <para>
+ On successful completion, an <command>INSERT</command> command returns a command
+ tag of the form
+<screen>
+INSERT <replaceable>oid</replaceable> <replaceable class="parameter">count</replaceable>
+</screen>
+ The <replaceable class="parameter">count</replaceable> is the number of
+ rows inserted or updated. <replaceable>oid</replaceable> is always 0 (it
+ used to be the <acronym>OID</acronym> assigned to the inserted row if
+ <replaceable>count</replaceable> was exactly one and the target table was
+ declared <literal>WITH OIDS</literal> and 0 otherwise, but creating a table
+ <literal>WITH OIDS</literal> is not supported anymore).
+ </para>
+
+ <para>
+ If the <command>INSERT</command> command contains a <literal>RETURNING</literal>
+ clause, the result will be similar to that of a <command>SELECT</command>
+ statement containing the columns and values defined in the
+ <literal>RETURNING</literal> list, computed over the row(s) inserted or
+ updated by the command.
+ </para>
+ </refsect1>
+
+ <refsect1>
+ <title>Notes</title>
+
+ <para>
+ If the specified table is a partitioned table, each row is routed to
+ the appropriate partition and inserted into it. If the specified table
+ is a partition, an error will occur if one of the input rows violates
+ the partition constraint.
+ </para>
+ </refsect1>
+
+ <refsect1>
+ <title>Examples</title>
+
+ <para>
+ Insert a single row into table <literal>films</literal>:
+
+<programlisting>
+INSERT INTO films VALUES
+ ('UA502', 'Bananas', 105, '1971-07-13', 'Comedy', '82 minutes');
+</programlisting>
+ </para>
+
+ <para>
+ In this example, the <literal>len</literal> column is
+ omitted and therefore it will have the default value:
+
+<programlisting>
+INSERT INTO films (code, title, did, date_prod, kind)
+ VALUES ('T_601', 'Yojimbo', 106, '1961-06-16', 'Drama');
+</programlisting>
+ </para>
+
+ <para>
+ This example uses the <literal>DEFAULT</literal> clause for
+ the date columns rather than specifying a value:
+
+<programlisting>
+INSERT INTO films VALUES
+ ('UA502', 'Bananas', 105, DEFAULT, 'Comedy', '82 minutes');
+INSERT INTO films (code, title, did, date_prod, kind)
+ VALUES ('T_601', 'Yojimbo', 106, DEFAULT, 'Drama');
+</programlisting>
+ </para>
+
+ <para>
+ To insert a row consisting entirely of default values:
+
+<programlisting>
+INSERT INTO films DEFAULT VALUES;
+</programlisting>
+ </para>
+
+ <para>
+ To insert multiple rows using the multirow <command>VALUES</command> syntax:
+
+<programlisting>
+INSERT INTO films (code, title, did, date_prod, kind) VALUES
+ ('B6717', 'Tampopo', 110, '1985-02-10', 'Comedy'),
+ ('HG120', 'The Dinner Game', 140, DEFAULT, 'Comedy');
+</programlisting>
+ </para>
+
+ <para>
+ This example inserts some rows into table
+ <literal>films</literal> from a table <literal>tmp_films</literal>
+ with the same column layout as <literal>films</literal>:
+
+<programlisting>
+INSERT INTO films SELECT * FROM tmp_films WHERE date_prod &lt; '2004-05-07';
+</programlisting>
+ </para>
+
+ <para>
+ This example inserts into array columns:
+
+<programlisting>
+-- Create an empty 3x3 gameboard for noughts-and-crosses
+INSERT INTO tictactoe (game, board[1:3][1:3])
+ VALUES (1, '{{" "," "," "},{" "," "," "},{" "," "," "}}');
+-- The subscripts in the above example aren't really needed
+INSERT INTO tictactoe (game, board)
+ VALUES (2, '{{X," "," "},{" ",O," "},{" ",X," "}}');
+</programlisting>
+ </para>
+
+ <para>
+ Insert a single row into table <literal>distributors</literal>, returning
+ the sequence number generated by the <literal>DEFAULT</literal> clause:
+
+<programlisting>
+INSERT INTO distributors (did, dname) VALUES (DEFAULT, 'XYZ Widgets')
+ RETURNING did;
+</programlisting>
+ </para>
+
+ <para>
+ Increment the sales count of the salesperson who manages the
+ account for Acme Corporation, and record the whole updated row
+ along with current time in a log table:
+<programlisting>
+WITH upd AS (
+ UPDATE employees SET sales_count = sales_count + 1 WHERE id =
+ (SELECT sales_person FROM accounts WHERE name = 'Acme Corporation')
+ RETURNING *
+)
+INSERT INTO employees_log SELECT *, current_timestamp FROM upd;
+</programlisting>
+ </para>
+ <para>
+ Insert or update new distributors as appropriate. Assumes a unique
+ index has been defined that constrains values appearing in the
+ <literal>did</literal> column. Note that the special
+ <varname>excluded</varname> table is used to reference values originally
+ proposed for insertion:
+<programlisting>
+INSERT INTO distributors (did, dname)
+ VALUES (5, 'Gizmo Transglobal'), (6, 'Associated Computing, Inc')
+ ON CONFLICT (did) DO UPDATE SET dname = EXCLUDED.dname;
+</programlisting>
+ </para>
+ <para>
+ Insert a distributor, or do nothing for rows proposed for insertion
+ when an existing, excluded row (a row with a matching constrained
+ column or columns after before row insert triggers fire) exists.
+ Example assumes a unique index has been defined that constrains
+ values appearing in the <literal>did</literal> column:
+<programlisting>
+INSERT INTO distributors (did, dname) VALUES (7, 'Redline GmbH')
+ ON CONFLICT (did) DO NOTHING;
+</programlisting>
+ </para>
+ <para>
+ Insert or update new distributors as appropriate. Example assumes
+ a unique index has been defined that constrains values appearing in
+ the <literal>did</literal> column. <literal>WHERE</literal> clause is
+ used to limit the rows actually updated (any existing row not
+ updated will still be locked, though):
+<programlisting>
+-- Don't update existing distributors based in a certain ZIP code
+INSERT INTO distributors AS d (did, dname) VALUES (8, 'Anvil Distribution')
+ ON CONFLICT (did) DO UPDATE
+ SET dname = EXCLUDED.dname || ' (formerly ' || d.dname || ')'
+ WHERE d.zipcode &lt;&gt; '21201';
+
+-- Name a constraint directly in the statement (uses associated
+-- index to arbitrate taking the DO NOTHING action)
+INSERT INTO distributors (did, dname) VALUES (9, 'Antwerp Design')
+ ON CONFLICT ON CONSTRAINT distributors_pkey DO NOTHING;
+</programlisting>
+ </para>
+ <para>
+ Insert new distributor if possible; otherwise
+ <literal>DO NOTHING</literal>. Example assumes a unique index has been
+ defined that constrains values appearing in the
+ <literal>did</literal> column on a subset of rows where the
+ <literal>is_active</literal> Boolean column evaluates to
+ <literal>true</literal>:
+<programlisting>
+-- This statement could infer a partial unique index on "did"
+-- with a predicate of "WHERE is_active", but it could also
+-- just use a regular unique constraint on "did"
+INSERT INTO distributors (did, dname) VALUES (10, 'Conrad International')
+ ON CONFLICT (did) WHERE is_active DO NOTHING;
+</programlisting></para>
+ </refsect1>
+
+ <refsect1>
+ <title>Compatibility</title>
+
+ <para>
+ <command>INSERT</command> conforms to the SQL standard, except that
+ the <literal>RETURNING</literal> clause is a
+ <productname>PostgreSQL</productname> extension, as is the ability
+ to use <literal>WITH</literal> with <command>INSERT</command>, and the ability to
+ specify an alternative action with <literal>ON CONFLICT</literal>.
+ Also, the case in
+ which a column name list is omitted, but not all the columns are
+ filled from the <literal>VALUES</literal> clause or <replaceable>query</replaceable>,
+ is disallowed by the standard.
+ </para>
+
+ <para>
+ The SQL standard specifies that <literal>OVERRIDING SYSTEM VALUE</literal>
+ can only be specified if an identity column that is generated always
+ exists. PostgreSQL allows the clause in any case and ignores it if it is
+ not applicable.
+ </para>
+
+ <para>
+ Possible limitations of the <replaceable
+ class="parameter">query</replaceable> clause are documented under
+ <xref linkend="sql-select"/>.
+ </para>
+ </refsect1>
+</refentry>