SELECT_INTO(7)

1SELECT INTO(7)           PostgreSQL 12.2 Documentation          SELECT INTO(7)
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NAME

6       SELECT_INTO - define a new table from the results of a query
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SYNOPSIS

9       [ WITH [ RECURSIVE ] with_query [, ...] ]
10       SELECT [ ALL | DISTINCT [ ON ( expression [, ...] ) ] ]
11           * | expression [ [ AS ] output_name ] [, ...]
12           INTO [ TEMPORARY | TEMP | UNLOGGED ] [ TABLE ] new_table
13           [ FROM from_item [, ...] ]
14           [ WHERE condition ]
15           [ GROUP BY expression [, ...] ]
16           [ HAVING condition [, ...] ]
17           [ WINDOW window_name AS ( window_definition ) [, ...] ]
18           [ { UNION | INTERSECT | EXCEPT } [ ALL | DISTINCT ] select ]
19           [ ORDER BY expression [ ASC | DESC | USING operator ] [ NULLS { FIRST | LAST } ] [, ...] ]
20           [ LIMIT { count | ALL } ]
21           [ OFFSET start [ ROW | ROWS ] ]
22           [ FETCH { FIRST | NEXT } [ count ] { ROW | ROWS } ONLY ]
23           [ FOR { UPDATE | SHARE } [ OF table_name [, ...] ] [ NOWAIT ] [...] ]
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DESCRIPTION

26       SELECT INTO creates a new table and fills it with data computed by a
27       query. The data is not returned to the client, as it is with a normal
28       SELECT. The new table's columns have the names and data types
29       associated with the output columns of the SELECT.
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PARAMETERS

32       TEMPORARY or TEMP
33           If specified, the table is created as a temporary table. Refer to
34           CREATE TABLE (CREATE_TABLE(7)) for details.
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36       UNLOGGED
37           If specified, the table is created as an unlogged table. Refer to
38           CREATE TABLE (CREATE_TABLE(7)) for details.
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40       new_table
41           The name (optionally schema-qualified) of the table to be created.
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43       All other parameters are described in detail under SELECT(7).
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NOTES

46       CREATE TABLE AS (CREATE_TABLE_AS(7)) is functionally similar to SELECT
47       INTO.  CREATE TABLE AS is the recommended syntax, since this form of
48       SELECT INTO is not available in ECPG or PL/pgSQL, because they
49       interpret the INTO clause differently. Furthermore, CREATE TABLE AS
50       offers a superset of the functionality provided by SELECT INTO.
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52       In contrast to CREATE TABLE AS, SELECT INTO does not allow to specify
53       properties like a table's access method with USING method or the
54       table's tablespace with TABLESPACE tablespace_name. Use CREATE TABLE AS
55       (CREATE_TABLE_AS(7)) if necessary. Therefore, the default table access
56       method is chosen for the new table. See default_table_access_method for
57       more information.
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EXAMPLES

60       Create a new table films_recent consisting of only recent entries from
61       the table films:
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63           SELECT * INTO films_recent FROM films WHERE date_prod >= '2002-01-01';
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COMPATIBILITY

66       The SQL standard uses SELECT INTO to represent selecting values into
67       scalar variables of a host program, rather than creating a new table.
68       This indeed is the usage found in ECPG (see Chapter 35) and PL/pgSQL
69       (see Chapter 42). The PostgreSQL usage of SELECT INTO to represent
70       table creation is historical. It is best to use CREATE TABLE AS for
71       this purpose in new code.
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