> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://gyansetu-sql.gitbook.io/sql-programming/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://gyansetu-sql.gitbook.io/sql-programming/sql-views.md).

# CREATE VIEWS

### SQL CREATE VIEW Statement

In SQL, a view is a virtual table based on the result-set of an SQL statement.

A view contains rows and columns, just like a real table. The fields in a view are fields from one or more real tables in the database.

You can add SQL functions, WHERE, and JOIN statements to a view and present the data as if the data were coming from one single table.

#### CREATE VIEW Syntax

```sql
CREATE VIEW view_name AS
SELECT column1, column2, ...
FROM table_name
WHERE condition
```

>  **Note:** A view always shows up-to-date data! The database engine recreates the data, using the view's SQL statement, every time a user queries a view.

### SQL CREATE VIEW Examples

The following SQL creates a view that shows all customers from Brazil:

```sql
CREATE VIEW [Brazil Customers] AS
SELECT CustomerName, ContactName
FROM Customers
WHERE Country = "Brazil";
```

We can query the view above as follows:

```sql
SELECT * FROM [Brazil Customers];
```

The following SQL creates a view that selects every product in the "Products" table with a price higher than the average price:

```sql
CREATE VIEW [Products Above Average Price] AS
SELECT ProductName, Price
FROM Products
WHERE Price > (SELECT AVG(Price) FROM Products);
```

\
We can query the view above as follows:

```sql
SELECT * FROM [Products Above Average Price];
```

SQL Updating a View

A view can be updated with the CREATE OR REPLACE VIEW command.

#### SQL CREATE OR REPLACE VIEW Syntax<br>

```sql
CREATE OR REPLACE VIEW view_name AS
SELECT column1, column2, ...
FROM table_name
WHERE condition
```

#### &#x20;The following SQL adds the "City" column to the "Brazil Customers" view:

```sql
CREATE OR REPLACE VIEW [Brazil Customers] AS
SELECT CustomerName, ContactName, City
FROM Customers
WHERE Country = "Brazil";
```

#### SQL Dropping a View

A view is deleted with the DROP VIEW command.

#### SQL DROP VIEW Syntax

```sql
DROP VIEW view_name;
```

#### The following SQL drops the "Brazil Customers" view:

```sql
DROP VIEW [Brazil Customers];
```

#### &#x20;NOTE: ORDER BY clause cannot be used inside a view. <br>