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<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="no"?>
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" /><title>INSERT</title><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="stylesheet.css" /><link rev="made" href="pgsql-docs@lists.postgresql.org" /><meta name="generator" content="DocBook XSL Stylesheets Vsnapshot" /><link rel="prev" href="sql-importforeignschema.html" title="IMPORT FOREIGN SCHEMA" /><link rel="next" href="sql-listen.html" title="LISTEN" /></head><body id="docContent" class="container-fluid col-10"><div class="navheader"><table width="100%" summary="Navigation header"><tr><th colspan="5" align="center">INSERT</th></tr><tr><td width="10%" align="left"><a accesskey="p" href="sql-importforeignschema.html" title="IMPORT FOREIGN SCHEMA">Prev</a> </td><td width="10%" align="left"><a accesskey="u" href="sql-commands.html" title="SQL Commands">Up</a></td><th width="60%" align="center">SQL Commands</th><td width="10%" align="right"><a accesskey="h" href="index.html" title="PostgreSQL 16.2 Documentation">Home</a></td><td width="10%" align="right"> <a accesskey="n" href="sql-listen.html" title="LISTEN">Next</a></td></tr></table><hr /></div><div class="refentry" id="SQL-INSERT"><div class="titlepage"></div><a id="id-1.9.3.152.1" class="indexterm"></a><div class="refnamediv"><h2><span class="refentrytitle">INSERT</span></h2><p>INSERT — create new rows in a table</p></div><div class="refsynopsisdiv"><h2>Synopsis</h2><pre class="synopsis">
[ WITH [ RECURSIVE ] <em class="replaceable"><code>with_query</code></em> [, ...] ]
INSERT INTO <em class="replaceable"><code>table_name</code></em> [ AS <em class="replaceable"><code>alias</code></em> ] [ ( <em class="replaceable"><code>column_name</code></em> [, ...] ) ]
    [ OVERRIDING { SYSTEM | USER } VALUE ]
    { DEFAULT VALUES | VALUES ( { <em class="replaceable"><code>expression</code></em> | DEFAULT } [, ...] ) [, ...] | <em class="replaceable"><code>query</code></em> }
    [ ON CONFLICT [ <em class="replaceable"><code>conflict_target</code></em> ] <em class="replaceable"><code>conflict_action</code></em> ]
    [ RETURNING * | <em class="replaceable"><code>output_expression</code></em> [ [ AS ] <em class="replaceable"><code>output_name</code></em> ] [, ...] ]

<span class="phrase">where <em class="replaceable"><code>conflict_target</code></em> can be one of:</span>

    ( { <em class="replaceable"><code>index_column_name</code></em> | ( <em class="replaceable"><code>index_expression</code></em> ) } [ COLLATE <em class="replaceable"><code>collation</code></em> ] [ <em class="replaceable"><code>opclass</code></em> ] [, ...] ) [ WHERE <em class="replaceable"><code>index_predicate</code></em> ]
    ON CONSTRAINT <em class="replaceable"><code>constraint_name</code></em>

<span class="phrase">and <em class="replaceable"><code>conflict_action</code></em> is one of:</span>

    DO NOTHING
    DO UPDATE SET { <em class="replaceable"><code>column_name</code></em> = { <em class="replaceable"><code>expression</code></em> | DEFAULT } |
                    ( <em class="replaceable"><code>column_name</code></em> [, ...] ) = [ ROW ] ( { <em class="replaceable"><code>expression</code></em> | DEFAULT } [, ...] ) |
                    ( <em class="replaceable"><code>column_name</code></em> [, ...] ) = ( <em class="replaceable"><code>sub-SELECT</code></em> )
                  } [, ...]
              [ WHERE <em class="replaceable"><code>condition</code></em> ]
</pre></div><div class="refsect1" id="id-1.9.3.152.5"><h2>Description</h2><p>
   <code class="command">INSERT</code> 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.
  </p><p>
   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 <em class="replaceable"><code>N</code></em> column
   names, if there are only <em class="replaceable"><code>N</code></em> columns supplied by the
   <code class="literal">VALUES</code> clause or <em class="replaceable"><code>query</code></em>.  The values
   supplied by the <code class="literal">VALUES</code> clause or <em class="replaceable"><code>query</code></em> are
   associated with the explicit or implicit column list left-to-right.
  </p><p>
   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.
  </p><p>
   If the expression for any column is not of the correct data type,
   automatic type conversion will be attempted.
  </p><p>
   <code class="command">INSERT</code> 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 <a class="xref" href="index-unique-checks.html" title="64.5. Index Uniqueness Checks">Section 64.5</a>.
   <code class="literal">ON CONFLICT</code> can be used to specify an alternative
   action to raising a unique constraint or exclusion constraint
   violation error. (See <a class="xref" href="sql-insert.html#SQL-ON-CONFLICT" title="ON CONFLICT Clause">ON CONFLICT Clause</a> below.)
  </p><p>
   The optional <code class="literal">RETURNING</code> clause causes <code class="command">INSERT</code>
   to compute and return value(s) based on each row actually inserted
   (or updated, if an <code class="literal">ON CONFLICT DO UPDATE</code> 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 <code class="literal">RETURNING</code> list is identical to that of the output
   list of <code class="command">SELECT</code>.  Only rows that were successfully
   inserted or updated will be returned.  For example, if a row was
   locked but not updated because an <code class="literal">ON CONFLICT DO UPDATE
   ... WHERE</code> clause <em class="replaceable"><code>condition</code></em> was not satisfied, the
   row will not be returned.
  </p><p>
   You must have <code class="literal">INSERT</code> privilege on a table in
   order to insert into it.  If <code class="literal">ON CONFLICT DO UPDATE</code> is
   present, <code class="literal">UPDATE</code> privilege on the table is also
   required.
  </p><p>
   If a column list is specified, you only need
   <code class="literal">INSERT</code> privilege on the listed columns.
   Similarly, when <code class="literal">ON CONFLICT DO UPDATE</code> is specified, you
   only need <code class="literal">UPDATE</code> privilege on the column(s) that are
   listed to be updated.  However, <code class="literal">ON CONFLICT DO UPDATE</code>
   also requires <code class="literal">SELECT</code> privilege on any column whose
   values are read in the <code class="literal">ON CONFLICT DO UPDATE</code>
   expressions or <em class="replaceable"><code>condition</code></em>.
  </p><p>
   Use of the <code class="literal">RETURNING</code> clause requires <code class="literal">SELECT</code>
   privilege on all columns mentioned in <code class="literal">RETURNING</code>.
   If you use the <em class="replaceable"><code>query</code></em> clause to insert rows from a
   query, you of course need to have <code class="literal">SELECT</code> privilege on
   any table or column used in the query.
  </p></div><div class="refsect1" id="id-1.9.3.152.6"><h2>Parameters</h2><div class="refsect2" id="id-1.9.3.152.6.2"><h3>Inserting</h3><p>
    This section covers parameters that may be used when only
    inserting new rows.  Parameters <span class="emphasis"><em>exclusively</em></span>
    used with the <code class="literal">ON CONFLICT</code> clause are described
    separately.
   </p><div class="variablelist"><dl class="variablelist"><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>with_query</code></em></span></dt><dd><p>
        The <code class="literal">WITH</code> clause allows you to specify one or more
        subqueries that can be referenced by name in the <code class="command">INSERT</code>
        query. See <a class="xref" href="queries-with.html" title="7.8. WITH Queries (Common Table Expressions)">Section 7.8</a> and <a class="xref" href="sql-select.html" title="SELECT"><span class="refentrytitle">SELECT</span></a>
        for details.
       </p><p>
        It is possible for the <em class="replaceable"><code>query</code></em>
        (<code class="command">SELECT</code> statement)
        to also contain a <code class="literal">WITH</code> clause.  In such a case both
        sets of <em class="replaceable"><code>with_query</code></em> can be referenced within
        the <em class="replaceable"><code>query</code></em>, but the
        second one takes precedence since it is more closely nested.
       </p></dd><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>table_name</code></em></span></dt><dd><p>
        The name (optionally schema-qualified) of an existing table.
       </p></dd><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>alias</code></em></span></dt><dd><p>
        A substitute name for <em class="replaceable"><code>table_name</code></em>.  When an alias is
        provided, it completely hides the actual name of the table.
        This is particularly useful when <code class="literal">ON CONFLICT DO UPDATE</code>
        targets a table named <code class="varname">excluded</code>, since that will otherwise
        be taken as the name of the special table representing the row proposed
        for insertion.
       </p></dd><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>column_name</code></em></span></dt><dd><p>
        The name of a column in the table named by <em class="replaceable"><code>table_name</code></em>.  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 <code class="literal">ON CONFLICT DO UPDATE</code>, do not include
        the table's name in the specification of a target column.  For
        example, <code class="literal">INSERT INTO table_name ... ON CONFLICT DO UPDATE
        SET table_name.col = 1</code> is invalid (this follows the general
        behavior for <code class="command">UPDATE</code>).
       </p></dd><dt><span class="term"><code class="literal">OVERRIDING SYSTEM VALUE</code></span></dt><dd><p>
        If this clause is specified, then any values supplied for identity
        columns will override the default sequence-generated values.
       </p><p>
        For an identity column defined as <code class="literal">GENERATED ALWAYS</code>,
        it is an error to insert an explicit value (other than
        <code class="literal">DEFAULT</code>) without specifying either
        <code class="literal">OVERRIDING SYSTEM VALUE</code> or <code class="literal">OVERRIDING USER
        VALUE</code>.  (For an identity column defined as
        <code class="literal">GENERATED BY DEFAULT</code>, <code class="literal">OVERRIDING SYSTEM
        VALUE</code> is the normal behavior and specifying it does nothing,
        but <span class="productname">PostgreSQL</span> allows it as an extension.)
       </p></dd><dt><span class="term"><code class="literal">OVERRIDING USER VALUE</code></span></dt><dd><p>
        If this clause is specified, then any values supplied for identity
        columns are ignored and the default sequence-generated values are
        applied.
       </p><p>
        This clause is useful for example when copying values between tables.
        Writing <code class="literal">INSERT INTO tbl2 OVERRIDING USER VALUE SELECT * FROM
        tbl1</code> will copy from <code class="literal">tbl1</code> all columns that
        are not identity columns in <code class="literal">tbl2</code> while values for
        the identity columns in <code class="literal">tbl2</code> will be generated by
        the sequences associated with <code class="literal">tbl2</code>.
       </p></dd><dt><span class="term"><code class="literal">DEFAULT VALUES</code></span></dt><dd><p>
        All columns will be filled with their default values, as if
        <code class="literal">DEFAULT</code> were explicitly specified for each column.
        (An <code class="literal">OVERRIDING</code> clause is not permitted in this
        form.)
       </p></dd><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>expression</code></em></span></dt><dd><p>
        An expression or value to assign to the corresponding column.
       </p></dd><dt><span class="term"><code class="literal">DEFAULT</code></span></dt><dd><p>
        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.
       </p></dd><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>query</code></em></span></dt><dd><p>
        A query (<code class="command">SELECT</code> statement) that supplies the
        rows to be inserted.  Refer to the
        <a class="xref" href="sql-select.html" title="SELECT"><span class="refentrytitle">SELECT</span></a>
        statement for a description of the syntax.
       </p></dd><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>output_expression</code></em></span></dt><dd><p>
        An expression to be computed and returned by the
        <code class="command">INSERT</code> command after each row is inserted or
        updated. The expression can use any column names of the table
        named by <em class="replaceable"><code>table_name</code></em>.  Write
        <code class="literal">*</code> to return all columns of the inserted or updated
        row(s).
       </p></dd><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>output_name</code></em></span></dt><dd><p>
        A name to use for a returned column.
       </p></dd></dl></div></div><div class="refsect2" id="SQL-ON-CONFLICT"><h3><code class="literal">ON CONFLICT</code> Clause</h3><a id="id-1.9.3.152.6.3.2" class="indexterm"></a><a id="id-1.9.3.152.6.3.3" class="indexterm"></a><p>
    The optional <code class="literal">ON CONFLICT</code> 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
    <span class="emphasis"><em>arbiter</em></span> constraint or index specified by
    <em class="parameter"><code>conflict_target</code></em> is violated, the
    alternative <em class="parameter"><code>conflict_action</code></em> is taken.
    <code class="literal">ON CONFLICT DO NOTHING</code> simply avoids inserting
    a row as its alternative action.  <code class="literal">ON CONFLICT DO
    UPDATE</code> updates the existing row that conflicts with the
    row proposed for insertion as its alternative action.
   </p><p>
    <em class="parameter"><code>conflict_target</code></em> can perform
    <span class="emphasis"><em>unique index inference</em></span>.  When performing
    inference, it consists of one or more <em class="replaceable"><code>index_column_name</code></em> columns and/or
    <em class="replaceable"><code>index_expression</code></em>
    expressions, and an optional <em class="replaceable"><code>index_predicate</code></em>.  All <em class="replaceable"><code>table_name</code></em> unique indexes that,
    without regard to order, contain exactly the
    <em class="parameter"><code>conflict_target</code></em>-specified
    columns/expressions are inferred (chosen) as arbiter indexes.  If
    an <em class="replaceable"><code>index_predicate</code></em> 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 <code class="literal">ON CONFLICT</code>) if such an index
    satisfying every other criteria is available.  If an attempt at
    inference is unsuccessful, an error is raised.
   </p><p>
    <code class="literal">ON CONFLICT DO UPDATE</code> guarantees an atomic
    <code class="command">INSERT</code> or <code class="command">UPDATE</code> outcome;
    provided there is no independent error, one of those two outcomes
    is guaranteed, even under high concurrency.  This is also known as
    <em class="firstterm">UPSERT</em><span class="quote"><span class="quote">UPDATE or
    INSERT</span></span>.
   </p><div class="variablelist"><dl class="variablelist"><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>conflict_target</code></em></span></dt><dd><p>
        Specifies which conflicts <code class="literal">ON CONFLICT</code> takes
        the alternative action on by choosing <em class="firstterm">arbiter
        indexes</em>.  Either performs <span class="emphasis"><em>unique index
        inference</em></span>, or names a constraint explicitly.  For
        <code class="literal">ON CONFLICT DO NOTHING</code>, it is optional to
        specify a <em class="parameter"><code>conflict_target</code></em>; when
        omitted, conflicts with all usable constraints (and unique
        indexes) are handled.  For <code class="literal">ON CONFLICT DO
        UPDATE</code>, a <em class="parameter"><code>conflict_target</code></em>
        <span class="emphasis"><em>must</em></span> be provided.
       </p></dd><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>conflict_action</code></em></span></dt><dd><p>
        <em class="parameter"><code>conflict_action</code></em> specifies an
        alternative <code class="literal">ON CONFLICT</code> action.  It can be
        either <code class="literal">DO NOTHING</code>, or a <code class="literal">DO
        UPDATE</code> clause specifying the exact details of the
        <code class="literal">UPDATE</code> action to be performed in case of a
        conflict.  The <code class="literal">SET</code> and
        <code class="literal">WHERE</code> clauses in <code class="literal">ON CONFLICT DO
        UPDATE</code> have access to the existing row using the
        table's name (or an alias), and to the row proposed for insertion
        using the special <code class="varname">excluded</code> table.
        <code class="literal">SELECT</code> privilege is required on any column in the
        target table where corresponding <code class="varname">excluded</code>
        columns are read.
       </p><p>
        Note that the effects of all per-row <code class="literal">BEFORE
        INSERT</code> triggers are reflected in
        <code class="varname">excluded</code> values, since those effects may
        have contributed to the row being excluded from insertion.
       </p></dd><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>index_column_name</code></em></span></dt><dd><p>
        The name of a <em class="replaceable"><code>table_name</code></em> column.  Used to
        infer arbiter indexes.  Follows <code class="command">CREATE
        INDEX</code> format.  <code class="literal">SELECT</code> privilege on
        <em class="replaceable"><code>index_column_name</code></em>
        is required.
       </p></dd><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>index_expression</code></em></span></dt><dd><p>
        Similar to <em class="replaceable"><code>index_column_name</code></em>, but used to
        infer expressions on <em class="replaceable"><code>table_name</code></em> columns appearing
        within index definitions (not simple columns).  Follows
        <code class="command">CREATE INDEX</code> format.  <code class="literal">SELECT</code>
        privilege on any column appearing within <em class="replaceable"><code>index_expression</code></em> is required.
       </p></dd><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>collation</code></em></span></dt><dd><p>
        When specified, mandates that corresponding <em class="replaceable"><code>index_column_name</code></em> or
        <em class="replaceable"><code>index_expression</code></em>
        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 <code class="command">CREATE INDEX</code> format.
       </p></dd><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>opclass</code></em></span></dt><dd><p>
        When specified, mandates that corresponding <em class="replaceable"><code>index_column_name</code></em> or
        <em class="replaceable"><code>index_expression</code></em>
        use particular operator class in order to be matched during
        inference.  Typically this is omitted,  as the
        <span class="emphasis"><em>equality</em></span> 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 <code class="command">CREATE
        INDEX</code> format.
       </p></dd><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>index_predicate</code></em></span></dt><dd><p>
        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 <code class="command">CREATE
        INDEX</code> format.  <code class="literal">SELECT</code> privilege on any
        column appearing within <em class="replaceable"><code>index_predicate</code></em> is required.
       </p></dd><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>constraint_name</code></em></span></dt><dd><p>
        Explicitly specifies an arbiter
        <span class="emphasis"><em>constraint</em></span> by name, rather than inferring
        a constraint or index.
       </p></dd><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>condition</code></em></span></dt><dd><p>
        An expression that returns a value of type
        <code class="type">boolean</code>.  Only rows for which this expression
        returns <code class="literal">true</code> will be updated, although all
        rows will be locked when the <code class="literal">ON CONFLICT DO UPDATE</code>
        action is taken.  Note that
        <em class="replaceable"><code>condition</code></em> is evaluated last, after
        a conflict has been identified as a candidate to update.
       </p></dd></dl></div><p>
    Note that exclusion constraints are not supported as arbiters with
    <code class="literal">ON CONFLICT DO UPDATE</code>. In all cases, only
    <code class="literal">NOT DEFERRABLE</code> constraints and unique indexes
    are supported as arbiters.
   </p><p>
    <code class="command">INSERT</code> with an <code class="literal">ON CONFLICT DO UPDATE</code>
    clause is a <span class="quote"><span class="quote">deterministic</span></span> 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.
   </p><p>
    Note that it is currently not supported for the
    <code class="literal">ON CONFLICT DO UPDATE</code> clause of an
    <code class="command">INSERT</code> 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.
   </p><div class="tip"><h3 class="title">Tip</h3><p>
     It is often preferable to use unique index inference rather than
     naming a constraint directly using <code class="literal">ON CONFLICT ON
     CONSTRAINT</code> <em class="replaceable"><code>
     constraint_name</code></em>.  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 <code class="literal">CREATE UNIQUE INDEX ...  CONCURRENTLY</code>
     before dropping the index being replaced.
    </p></div></div></div><div class="refsect1" id="id-1.9.3.152.7"><h2>Outputs</h2><p>
   On successful completion, an <code class="command">INSERT</code> command returns a command
   tag of the form
</p><pre class="screen">
INSERT <em class="replaceable"><code>oid</code></em> <em class="replaceable"><code>count</code></em>
</pre><p>
   The <em class="replaceable"><code>count</code></em> is the number of
   rows inserted or updated.  <em class="replaceable"><code>oid</code></em> is always 0 (it
   used to be the <acronym class="acronym">OID</acronym> assigned to the inserted row if
   <em class="replaceable"><code>count</code></em> was exactly one and the target table was
   declared <code class="literal">WITH OIDS</code> and 0 otherwise, but creating a table
   <code class="literal">WITH OIDS</code> is not supported anymore).
  </p><p>
   If the <code class="command">INSERT</code> command contains a <code class="literal">RETURNING</code>
   clause, the result will be similar to that of a <code class="command">SELECT</code>
   statement containing the columns and values defined in the
   <code class="literal">RETURNING</code> list, computed over the row(s) inserted or
   updated by the command.
  </p></div><div class="refsect1" id="id-1.9.3.152.8"><h2>Notes</h2><p>
   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.
  </p><p>
   You may also wish to consider using <code class="command">MERGE</code>, since that
   allows mixing <code class="command">INSERT</code>, <code class="command">UPDATE</code>, and
   <code class="command">DELETE</code> within a single statement.
   See <a class="xref" href="sql-merge.html" title="MERGE"><span class="refentrytitle">MERGE</span></a>.
  </p></div><div class="refsect1" id="id-1.9.3.152.9"><h2>Examples</h2><p>
   Insert a single row into table <code class="literal">films</code>:

</p><pre class="programlisting">
INSERT INTO films VALUES
    ('UA502', 'Bananas', 105, '1971-07-13', 'Comedy', '82 minutes');
</pre><p>
  </p><p>
   In this example, the <code class="literal">len</code> column is
   omitted and therefore it will have the default value:

</p><pre class="programlisting">
INSERT INTO films (code, title, did, date_prod, kind)
    VALUES ('T_601', 'Yojimbo', 106, '1961-06-16', 'Drama');
</pre><p>
  </p><p>
   This example uses the <code class="literal">DEFAULT</code> clause for
   the date columns rather than specifying a value:

</p><pre class="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');
</pre><p>
  </p><p>
   To insert a row consisting entirely of default values:

</p><pre class="programlisting">
INSERT INTO films DEFAULT VALUES;
</pre><p>
  </p><p>
   To insert multiple rows using the multirow <code class="command">VALUES</code> syntax:

</p><pre class="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');
</pre><p>
  </p><p>
   This example inserts some rows into table
   <code class="literal">films</code> from a table <code class="literal">tmp_films</code>
   with the same column layout as <code class="literal">films</code>:

</p><pre class="programlisting">
INSERT INTO films SELECT * FROM tmp_films WHERE date_prod &lt; '2004-05-07';
</pre><p>
  </p><p>
   This example inserts into array columns:

</p><pre class="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," "}}');
</pre><p>
  </p><p>
   Insert a single row into table <code class="literal">distributors</code>, returning
   the sequence number generated by the <code class="literal">DEFAULT</code> clause:

</p><pre class="programlisting">
INSERT INTO distributors (did, dname) VALUES (DEFAULT, 'XYZ Widgets')
   RETURNING did;
</pre><p>
  </p><p>
   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:
</p><pre class="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;
</pre><p>
  </p><p>
   Insert or update new distributors as appropriate.  Assumes a unique
   index has been defined that constrains values appearing in the
   <code class="literal">did</code> column.  Note that the special
   <code class="varname">excluded</code> table is used to reference values originally
   proposed for insertion:
</p><pre class="programlisting">
INSERT INTO distributors (did, dname)
    VALUES (5, 'Gizmo Transglobal'), (6, 'Associated Computing, Inc')
    ON CONFLICT (did) DO UPDATE SET dname = EXCLUDED.dname;
</pre><p>
  </p><p>
   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 <code class="literal">did</code> column:
</p><pre class="programlisting">
INSERT INTO distributors (did, dname) VALUES (7, 'Redline GmbH')
    ON CONFLICT (did) DO NOTHING;
</pre><p>
  </p><p>
   Insert or update new distributors as appropriate.  Example assumes
   a unique index has been defined that constrains values appearing in
   the <code class="literal">did</code> column.  <code class="literal">WHERE</code> clause is
   used to limit the rows actually updated (any existing row not
   updated will still be locked, though):
</p><pre class="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;
</pre><p>
  </p><p>
   Insert new distributor if possible;  otherwise
   <code class="literal">DO NOTHING</code>.  Example assumes a unique index has been
   defined that constrains values appearing in the
   <code class="literal">did</code> column on a subset of rows where the
   <code class="literal">is_active</code> Boolean column evaluates to
   <code class="literal">true</code>:
</p><pre class="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;
</pre></div><div class="refsect1" id="id-1.9.3.152.10"><h2>Compatibility</h2><p>
   <code class="command">INSERT</code> conforms to the SQL standard, except that
   the <code class="literal">RETURNING</code> clause is a
   <span class="productname">PostgreSQL</span> extension, as is the ability
   to use <code class="literal">WITH</code> with <code class="command">INSERT</code>, and the ability to
   specify an alternative action with <code class="literal">ON CONFLICT</code>.
   Also, the case in
   which a column name list is omitted, but not all the columns are
   filled from the <code class="literal">VALUES</code> clause or <em class="replaceable"><code>query</code></em>,
   is disallowed by the standard. If you prefer a more SQL standard
   conforming statement than <code class="literal">ON CONFLICT</code>, see
   <a class="xref" href="sql-merge.html" title="MERGE"><span class="refentrytitle">MERGE</span></a>.
  </p><p>
   The SQL standard specifies that <code class="literal">OVERRIDING SYSTEM VALUE</code>
   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.
  </p><p>
   Possible limitations of the <em class="replaceable"><code>query</code></em> clause are documented under
   <a class="xref" href="sql-select.html" title="SELECT"><span class="refentrytitle">SELECT</span></a>.
  </p></div></div><div class="navfooter"><hr /><table width="100%" summary="Navigation footer"><tr><td width="40%" align="left"><a accesskey="p" href="sql-importforeignschema.html" title="IMPORT FOREIGN SCHEMA">Prev</a> </td><td width="20%" align="center"><a accesskey="u" href="sql-commands.html" title="SQL Commands">Up</a></td><td width="40%" align="right"> <a accesskey="n" href="sql-listen.html" title="LISTEN">Next</a></td></tr><tr><td width="40%" align="left" valign="top">IMPORT FOREIGN SCHEMA </td><td width="20%" align="center"><a accesskey="h" href="index.html" title="PostgreSQL 16.2 Documentation">Home</a></td><td width="40%" align="right" valign="top"> LISTEN</td></tr></table></div></body></html>