Working with Views

Imagine a scenario where a complex query involving multiple joins and filters is to be executed repeatedly or in certain intervals. Each time the query is needed, it must be rewritten or stored separately. Rather than recreating the same query every time, we can build a virtual table called a view. By using views, we make our data access more secure, convenient, and organized.

Let’s dive into working with views and see how they can streamline our queries and improve our workflows. Our focus will be to:

• Understand what views are and why they are useful

• Learn how to create a view

• Learn how to edit and update a view

• Learn how to use a view in joins

• Learn how to delete a view

What is a view in SQL?

A view is a virtual table that represents the result of a pre-written query. It does not store data but simplifies recurring query tasks. They are important because they help us:

• Simplify complex queries into a single named object

• Enhance security by granting access to only a subset of columns or rows

• Improve maintainability by centralizing logic in one place

Creating a view in SQL

When we create a view, we define a query and assign it a name. This helps us reuse the query without rewriting it. The syntax of creating a view is as follows:

In the above statement, we create a view, ViewName, and within the view, we have a defined a query which will be executed when the view is accessed.

Let's look at an ...