MariaDB

Using Multiple CTEs in a Single Query

November 15, 2025September 3, 2025 by Ian

Common Table Expressions (CTEs) are a handy way to break down a complex query into readable, reusable pieces. When you need several intermediate results – say, a filtered set, an aggregation, and a ranking – you can stack multiple CTE definitions together. PostgreSQL, SQL Server, MySQL 8+, and many other engines support this syntax.

Overview of the MEDIAN() Function in MariaDB

August 28, 2024September 16, 2023 by Ian

In MariaDB, the MEDIAN() function returns the median value of a range of values.

We can use the MEDIAN() function in our queries to get a column’s median value across its partition or the whole result set.

Fix ERROR 1050 “Table … already exists” in MariaDB

April 14, 2023 by Ian

If you’re getting an error that reads something like “ERROR 1050 (42S01) at line 22: Table ‘Pets’ already exists” when trying to create a table in MariaDB, it’s most likely because there’s already a table in the database with the same name.

To fix this issue, either change the name of the table you’re trying to create, or check the existing table to see if it’s the one you actually need.

Get the Number of Rows Affected by Previous SQL Statement

March 8, 2023 by Ian

Some RDBMSs provide an easy way for us to find out how many rows were affected by the last SQL statement. This can be handy when running INSERT, UPDATE, or DELETE statements.

The method used depends on the DBMS we’re using. Below, I look at how some of the major DBMSs implement this functionality.

Create a Table if it Doesn’t Exist in SQL

December 25, 2023January 25, 2023 by Ian

When creating a table with SQL, we can specify that the table is only to be created if it doesn’t already exist. Doing this prevents any errors from occurring in the event that the table already exists.

Here are some examples of doing this in various RDBMSs.

3 Ways to Clone a Table in MariaDB using SQL

December 17, 2022 by Ian

We have several options when it comes to using SQL to clone a table in MariaDB. And we have the option to clone the table with data, or without data.

Here are three SQL options for cloning a table in MariaDB.

How to Insert Multiple Rows in SQL

December 7, 2022 by Ian

When working with SQL, we can use the INSERT statement to insert a new row into a table. But what if we want to insert more than one row?

Fortunately, we can still use the INSERT statement. Below is a quick example that inserts multiple rows using SQL.

Generate a CREATE TABLE Script for an Existing Table in MariaDB

December 3, 2022 by Ian

We can use MariaDB’s SHOW CREATE TABLE statement to generate a CREATE TABLE script for existing tables in the database. This allows us to recreate the table without having to manually type out the table’s definition.

The statement requires SELECT privilege for the table.

7 Ways to Insert Multiple Rows in SQL

October 31, 2022 by Ian

We can use the SQL INSERT statement to insert a row into a table. We can also use it to insert more than one row.

Below are seven ways to insert multiple rows into a table in SQL. Most of these examples should work in the major RDBMSs, with the possible exception of Oracle. But no worries, I’ve included an example just for Oracle.

How to Return the Definition of a Generated Column in MariaDB

October 25, 2022 by Ian

If you have a table in MariaDB with a generated column, you can use the following methods to find out its definition.