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MySQL


Interview Questions For MySQL


1. What is MySQL?
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Ans. MySQL is an open-source relational database management system (RDBMS) that uses Structured Query Language (SQL) to manage data.


2. What are the advantages of using MySQL?
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Ans. Advantages of MySQL include high performance, reliability, ease of use, open-source availability, and strong community support.


3. What is a primary key?
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Ans. A primary key is a unique identifier for a record in a table. It must contain unique values and cannot contain NULLs.


4. What is a foreign key?
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Ans. A foreign key is a field that creates a relationship between two tables. It refers to the primary key in another table.


5. What are the different data types in MySQL?
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Ans. Common MySQL data types include INT, VARCHAR, TEXT, DATE, FLOAT, DOUBLE, and BOOLEAN.


6. What is normalization?
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Ans. Normalization is the process of organizing data in a database to reduce redundancy and improve data integrity.


7. What is denormalization?
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Ans. Denormalization is the process of combining tables to reduce the number of joins and improve query performance.


8. What are joins in MySQL?
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Ans. Joins are used to combine rows from two or more tables based on a related column. Types include INNER JOIN, LEFT JOIN, RIGHT JOIN, and FULL JOIN.


9. What is the difference between CHAR and VARCHAR?
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Ans. CHAR is a fixed-length string, while VARCHAR is a variable-length string that saves space by storing only the needed characters.


10. What is a unique key?
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Ans. A unique key ensures all values in a column or group of columns are distinct across rows in the table, allowing one NULL value.


11. How do you create a table in MySQL?
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Ans. Use the CREATE TABLE statement. Example: CREATE TABLE users (id INT PRIMARY KEY, name VARCHAR(100));


12. How do you insert data into a MySQL table?
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Ans. Use the INSERT INTO statement. Example: INSERT INTO users (id, name) VALUES (1, 'Alice');


13. What is the use of the SELECT statement?
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Ans. The SELECT statement is used to retrieve data from one or more tables in a database.


14. What is the difference between WHERE and HAVING clauses?
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Ans. WHERE filters rows before grouping, while HAVING filters groups after GROUP BY.


15. What are indexes in MySQL?
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Ans. Indexes are used to speed up data retrieval. They allow the database to find rows faster without scanning the whole table.


16. What is a view in MySQL?
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Ans. A view is a virtual table based on the result set of an SQL query. It does not store data physically.


17. How can you update data in a table?
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Ans. Use the UPDATE statement. Example: UPDATE users SET name='Bob' WHERE id=1;


18. How can you delete data from a table?
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Ans. Use the DELETE statement. Example: DELETE FROM users WHERE id=1;


19. What is a stored procedure?
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Ans. A stored procedure is a set of SQL statements that can be saved and reused. It improves performance and reusability.


20. What is a trigger in MySQL?
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Ans. A trigger is a set of actions that are executed automatically in response to certain events on a table like INSERT, UPDATE, or DELETE.


21. What is the difference between DELETE and TRUNCATE?
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Ans. DELETE removes specific rows and can be rolled back. TRUNCATE removes all rows quickly and cannot be rolled back.


22. What is ACID in databases?
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Ans. ACID stands for Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, and Durability — key properties for reliable transactions.


23. What is a transaction in MySQL?
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Ans. A transaction is a sequence of SQL statements that are executed as a single unit. Transactions ensure data integrity.


24. How do you start and end a transaction?
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Ans. Use START TRANSACTION, followed by your queries, and end with COMMIT or ROLLBACK.


25. What is the use of GROUP BY?
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Ans. GROUP BY is used to group rows that have the same values in specified columns into summary rows.


26. What is the use of the DISTINCT keyword?
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Ans. DISTINCT is used to remove duplicate values from the result set of a SELECT query.


27. What are constraints in MySQL?
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Ans. Constraints enforce rules on the data in a table. Examples include NOT NULL, UNIQUE, CHECK, PRIMARY KEY, and FOREIGN KEY.


28. What is a composite key?
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Ans. A composite key is a combination of two or more columns used to uniquely identify a row in a table.


29. What is the difference between MySQL and SQL?
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Ans. SQL is a language for managing databases. MySQL is a database system that uses SQL as its query language.


30. How do you optimize MySQL queries?
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Ans. Query optimization can be done using EXPLAIN, indexing, avoiding SELECT *, and writing efficient joins and conditions.


31. What is the difference between INNER JOIN and LEFT JOIN?
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Ans. INNER JOIN returns only the rows that have matching values in both tables, while LEFT JOIN returns all rows from the left table and the matched rows from the right table.


32. What is the purpose of the LIMIT clause in MySQL?
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Ans. The LIMIT clause is used to specify the number of records to return from the result set. It helps in restricting the output size.


33. How can you find duplicate rows in MySQL?
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Ans. You can use the GROUP BY clause along with the HAVING clause to find duplicate rows. Example: SELECT column_name, COUNT(*) FROM table GROUP BY column_name HAVING COUNT(*) > 1;


34. What is a subquery in MySQL?
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Ans. A subquery is a query nested inside another query. It can be used in SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, or DELETE statements to retrieve data for the outer query.


35. What is a stored function in MySQL?
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Ans. A stored function is a set of SQL statements that performs a specific task and returns a single value. It can be called from SQL queries.


36. How do you handle errors in MySQL?
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Ans. MySQL errors can be handled using the DECLARE CONTINUE HANDLER statement for exceptions in stored procedures and functions.


37. What is a connection pool in MySQL?
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Ans. A connection pool is a collection of reusable database connections. It helps in improving performance by reusing connections instead of creating new ones for every request.


38. What is the difference between UNION and UNION ALL?
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Ans. UNION combines the result sets of two or more SELECT queries and removes duplicates, while UNION ALL includes duplicates.


39. What is an auto-increment field in MySQL?
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Ans. An auto-increment field automatically generates a unique value for every new record inserted into a table. It is typically used for primary keys.


40. How do you perform a case-insensitive search in MySQL?
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Ans. MySQL performs case-insensitive searches by default for text data types, but you can use the COLLATE clause to enforce case insensitivity. Example: SELECT * FROM table WHERE column COLLATE utf8_general_ci = 'value';


41. What are the different types of indexes in MySQL?
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Ans. The common types of indexes in MySQL are PRIMARY KEY, UNIQUE, INDEX, FULLTEXT, and SPATIAL indexes.


42. What is the purpose of the EXPLAIN statement in MySQL?
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Ans. The EXPLAIN statement is used to analyze and optimize SQL queries by displaying information about how MySQL executes the query.


43. What is a self join in MySQL?
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Ans. A self join is a join where a table is joined with itself. It is useful when you need to compare rows within the same table.


44. What is the difference between MyISAM and InnoDB storage engines?
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Ans. MyISAM is faster for read-heavy operations and supports full-text indexing. InnoDB supports ACID compliance, foreign key constraints, and is better for write-heavy operations.


45. How do you find the number of rows in a table?
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Ans. Use the SELECT COUNT(*) FROM table_name; query to find the number of rows in a table.


46. How do you create an index in MySQL?
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Ans. You can create an index using the CREATE INDEX statement. Example: CREATE INDEX idx_name ON table_name (column_name);


47. What is the purpose of the SHOW TABLES command in MySQL?
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Ans. The SHOW TABLES command is used to list all the tables in the current database.


48. How do you change a column's data type in MySQL?
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Ans. Use the ALTER TABLE statement. Example: ALTER TABLE table_name MODIFY column_name new_data_type;


49. What is a deadlock in MySQL?
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Ans. A deadlock occurs when two or more transactions hold locks on resources and are waiting for each other to release those locks. It results in a situation where neither transaction can proceed.


50. What is the purpose of the CONCAT function in MySQL?
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Ans. The CONCAT function is used to concatenate two or more strings into a single string. Example: SELECT CONCAT('Hello', ' ', 'World'); results in 'Hello World'.


51. What is the difference between VARCHAR and TEXT in MySQL?
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Ans. VARCHAR is used for variable-length strings, whereas TEXT is used for long text fields. TEXT can hold up to 65,535 characters, while VARCHAR has a length limit of 255 characters.


52. What is the purpose of the COALESCE function in MySQL?
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Ans. The COALESCE function returns the first non-NULL value in a list of expressions. Example: SELECT COALESCE(NULL, NULL, 'Hello'); returns 'Hello'.


53. What are the different ways to retrieve unique records in MySQL?
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Ans. You can use the DISTINCT keyword to retrieve unique records. Example: SELECT DISTINCT column_name FROM table;


54. How do you prevent SQL injection in MySQL?
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Ans. To prevent SQL injection, use prepared statements, parameterized queries, and avoid directly embedding user input in SQL queries.


55. What is the purpose of the CAST function in MySQL?
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Ans. The CAST function is used to convert an expression from one data type to another. Example: SELECT CAST('2025-04-15' AS DATE);


56. What is the difference between a function and a stored procedure in MySQL?
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Ans. A function returns a value and can be used in queries, while a stored procedure is used to perform a set of SQL actions but does not return a value.


57. What is the purpose of the GROUP_CONCAT function in MySQL?
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Ans. The GROUP_CONCAT function is used to concatenate values from multiple rows into a single string. Example: SELECT GROUP_CONCAT(column_name) FROM table;


58. How do you create a foreign key constraint in MySQL?
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Ans. Use the ALTER TABLE statement to add a foreign key constraint. Example: ALTER TABLE child_table ADD CONSTRAINT fk_name FOREIGN KEY (column_name) REFERENCES parent_table(column_name);


59. What is the purpose of the NOW() function in MySQL?
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Ans. The NOW() function returns the current date and time in the format 'YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS'. Example: SELECT NOW();


60. What are triggers in MySQL, and how do they work?
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Ans. Triggers are automated actions executed before or after an INSERT, UPDATE, or DELETE operation on a table. Example: CREATE TRIGGER trigger_name BEFORE INSERT ON table FOR EACH ROW SET NEW.column_name = 'value';


61. How do you update multiple columns in a MySQL table?
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Ans. Use the UPDATE statement with multiple column assignments. Example: UPDATE table_name SET column1='value1', column2='value2' WHERE condition;


62. What is the purpose of the IFNULL function in MySQL?
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Ans. The IFNULL function returns a specified value if the expression is NULL. Example: SELECT IFNULL(column_name, 'default_value');


63. How can you rename a table in MySQL?
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Ans. Use the RENAME TABLE statement. Example: RENAME TABLE old_table_name TO new_table_name;


64. What is the purpose of the DATE_FORMAT function in MySQL?
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Ans. The DATE_FORMAT function is used to format date values in a specific format. Example: SELECT DATE_FORMAT(date_column, '%Y-%m-%d');


65. What is the difference between the IN and EXISTS operators in MySQL?
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Ans. IN is used to compare a value to a list of values, while EXISTS is used to check whether a subquery returns any results.


66. How do you delete a table in MySQL?
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Ans. Use the DROP TABLE statement. Example: DROP TABLE table_name;


67. How can you change a column name in MySQL?
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Ans. Use the ALTER TABLE statement with the CHANGE COLUMN clause. Example: ALTER TABLE table_name CHANGE old_column_name new_column_name column_definition;


68. What is the purpose of the SUBSTRING function in MySQL?
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Ans. The SUBSTRING function is used to extract a substring from a string. Example: SELECT SUBSTRING('Hello World', 1, 5); returns 'Hello'.


69. How do you prevent duplicate records in MySQL?
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Ans. You can prevent duplicates by using the UNIQUE constraint or by using the DISTINCT keyword in SELECT queries.


70. What is the purpose of the RAND() function in MySQL?
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Ans. The RAND() function returns a random floating-point number between 0 and 1. Example: SELECT RAND();


71. What is the purpose of the ABS() function in MySQL?
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Ans. The ABS() function returns the absolute value of a number. Example: SELECT ABS(-5); returns 5.


72. What is the purpose of the TRIM() function in MySQL?
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Ans. The TRIM() function is used to remove leading and trailing spaces from a string. Example: SELECT TRIM(' Hello '); returns 'Hello'.


73. What is the difference between DELETE, TRUNCATE, and DROP in MySQL?
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Ans. DELETE removes rows from a table based on a condition. TRUNCATE removes all rows and resets the table, while DROP removes the table structure completely.


74. How do you list all the indexes on a MySQL table?
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Ans. You can use the SHOW INDEXES statement. Example: SHOW INDEXES FROM table_name;


75. What is the purpose of the DISTINCT keyword in MySQL?
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Ans. The DISTINCT keyword is used to remove duplicate values from a result set. Example: SELECT DISTINCT column_name FROM table;


76. How do you find the last inserted ID in MySQL?
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Ans. Use the LAST_INSERT_ID() function to retrieve the ID of the last inserted record. Example: SELECT LAST_INSERT_ID();


77. What is the purpose of the CURDATE() function in MySQL?
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Ans. The CURDATE() function returns the current date in the format 'YYYY-MM-DD'. Example: SELECT CURDATE();


78. What is the purpose of the COUNT() function in MySQL?
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Ans. The COUNT() function returns the number of rows that match a given condition. Example: SELECT COUNT(*) FROM table_name;


79. What is the purpose of the CONCAT_WS() function in MySQL?
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Ans. The CONCAT_WS() function concatenates strings with a specified separator. Example: SELECT CONCAT_WS(',', 'Hello', 'World'); returns 'Hello,World'.


80. How can you check if a value exists in a MySQL table?
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Ans. Use the EXISTS operator to check if a value exists in a subquery. Example: SELECT * FROM table WHERE EXISTS (SELECT * FROM table WHERE column_name = 'value');


81. What is the difference between CHAR and VARCHAR in MySQL?
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Ans. CHAR is a fixed-length string data type, while VARCHAR is a variable-length string. CHAR always uses the defined storage size, whereas VARCHAR uses only the required storage size.


82. How do you get the current time in MySQL?
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Ans. Use the CURTIME() function to get the current time in the format 'HH:MM:SS'. Example: SELECT CURTIME();


83. How do you create a table in MySQL?
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Ans. Use the CREATE TABLE statement to create a table. Example: CREATE TABLE table_name (column1 datatype, column2 datatype);


84. How do you find the total number of records in a MySQL table?
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Ans. Use the COUNT() function to find the total number of records. Example: SELECT COUNT(*) FROM table_name;


85. What is the purpose of the REPLACE() function in MySQL?
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Ans. The REPLACE() function is used to replace all occurrences of a substring within a string. Example: SELECT REPLACE('Hello World', 'World', 'MySQL'); returns 'Hello MySQL'.


86. How do you remove a column from a table in MySQL?
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Ans. Use the ALTER TABLE statement with the DROP COLUMN clause. Example: ALTER TABLE table_name DROP COLUMN column_name;


87. What is a composite key in MySQL?
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Ans. A composite key is a primary key that consists of more than one column. It is used when a single column is not unique enough to identify records.


88. How do you change the name of a database in MySQL?
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Ans. MySQL does not have a direct command to rename a database. You must create a new database, copy the data from the old database, and then drop the old database.


89. What is the purpose of the NOW() function in MySQL?
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Ans. The NOW() function returns the current date and time in the format 'YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS'. Example: SELECT NOW();


90. How do you optimize a query in MySQL?
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Ans. Query optimization can be done by indexing columns used in WHERE clauses, avoiding unnecessary JOINs, and using LIMIT for large data sets.


91. How do you lock a table in MySQL?
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Ans. Use the LOCK TABLES statement to lock a table. Example: LOCK TABLES table_name WRITE;


92. What is a foreign key constraint in MySQL?
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Ans. A foreign key constraint ensures the integrity of the relationship between two tables by enforcing a rule that a value in one table must exist in another table.


93. How do you create an index on multiple columns in MySQL?
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Ans. Use the CREATE INDEX statement for multiple columns. Example: CREATE INDEX idx_name ON table_name (column1, column2);


94. How do you find duplicate values in a column?
Show Answer

Ans. Use the GROUP BY clause with the HAVING clause to find duplicate values. Example: SELECT column_name, COUNT(*) FROM table_name GROUP BY column_name HAVING COUNT(*) > 1;


95. What is the difference between the UNION and JOIN operations?
Show Answer

Ans. UNION combines result sets from two or more queries and removes duplicates, while JOIN combines rows from two or more tables based on a related column.


96. How do you rename a column in MySQL?
Show Answer

Ans. Use the ALTER TABLE statement with the CHANGE COLUMN clause. Example: ALTER TABLE table_name CHANGE old_column_name new_column_name column_definition;


97. What is a primary key in MySQL?
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Ans. A primary key is a unique identifier for a record in a table. It ensures that no two records have the same primary key value.


98. What is an index in MySQL?
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Ans. An index is a data structure used to improve the speed of retrieval operations on a database table.


99. How do you perform a case-insensitive search in MySQL?
Show Answer

Ans. MySQL performs case-insensitive searches by default for text data types, but you can use the COLLATE clause to enforce case insensitivity. Example: SELECT * FROM table WHERE column COLLATE utf8_general_ci = 'value';


100. What is the purpose of the LIMIT clause in MySQL?
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Ans. The LIMIT clause is used to specify the number of rows to return in a query. Example: SELECT * FROM table LIMIT 5; returns only the first 5 rows.


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