MySQL - Aliases

MySQL aliases are temporary names assigned to columns or tables within a query. They enhance readability and simplify complex statements, making your code cleaner and more efficient.

 

Column Aliases:

In MySQL, you can use column aliases to rename columns in the result set, making the output more descriptive. For example:

SELECT first_name AS "First Name", last_name AS "Last Name"

FROM employees;

 

Column aliases are also handy for labelling calculated fields:

SELECT salary * 12 AS "Annual Salary"

FROM employees;

 

Table Aliases:

When dealing with multiple tables, particularly in joins, table aliases can make your queries more concise by abbreviating table names:

 

SELECT e.first_name, d.department_name

FROM employees AS e

JOIN departments AS d ON e.department_id = d.department_id;

 

Benefits of Aliases in MySQL:

• Readability: Aliases make complex queries easier to follow.
• Simplification: They reduce the need to type long names repeatedly.
• Clarity: Aliases provide meaningful names for derived columns or expressions.

Remember, aliases are temporary and only exist for the duration of the query. They don’t alter the database schema but are essential for writing cleaner, more readable MySQL code.