SQL Antipatterns: Avoiding the Pitfalls of Database Programming/

...

/

Solution: Name Columns Explicitly

Solution: Name Columns Explicitly

Let's discuss how using the names explicitly improves clarity and performance.

We'll cover the following...

The best approach is to spell out the names of all the columns we need instead of relying on wildcards or implicit column lists.

Press + to interact
SELECT bug_id, date_reported, summary, description, resolution, 
       reported_by, assigned_to, verified_by, status, priority, hours 
  FROM Bugs;

Then, we follow this step by inserting a new record in the Accounts table.

Press + to interact
INSERT INTO Accounts (account_id, account_name, first_name, last_name, email, 
                     password_hash, portrait_image, hourly_rate) 
     VALUES (4, 'bkarwin', 'Bill', 'Karwin', 'bill@example.com',
            SHA2('xyzzy',256), NULL, 49.95);

All this typing seems burdensome, but it’s worth it in several ways.

Mistake-proofing

When ...