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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" /><title>INSERT</title><link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="stylesheet.css" /><link rev="made" href="pgsql-docs@lists.postgresql.org" /><meta name="generator" content="DocBook XSL Stylesheets Vsnapshot" /><link rel="prev" href="sql-importforeignschema.html" title="IMPORT FOREIGN SCHEMA" /><link rel="next" href="sql-listen.html" title="LISTEN" /></head><body><div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/transitional" class="navheader"><table width="100%" summary="Navigation header"><tr><th colspan="5" align="center">INSERT</th></tr><tr><td width="10%" align="left"><a accesskey="p" href="sql-importforeignschema.html" title="IMPORT FOREIGN SCHEMA">Prev</a> </td><td width="10%" align="left"><a accesskey="u" href="sql-commands.html" title="SQL Commands">Up</a></td><th width="60%" align="center">SQL Commands</th><td width="10%" align="right"><a accesskey="h" href="index.html" title="PostgreSQL 11.5 Documentation">Home</a></td><td width="10%" align="right"> <a accesskey="n" href="sql-listen.html" title="LISTEN">Next</a></td></tr></table><hr></hr></div><div class="refentry" id="SQL-INSERT"><div class="titlepage"></div><a id="id-1.9.3.152.1" class="indexterm"></a><div class="refnamediv"><h2><span class="refentrytitle">INSERT</span></h2><p>INSERT — create new rows in a table</p></div><div class="refsynopsisdiv"><h2>Synopsis</h2><pre class="synopsis">
[ WITH [ RECURSIVE ] <em class="replaceable"><code>with_query</code></em> [, ...] ]
INSERT INTO <em class="replaceable"><code>table_name</code></em> [ AS <em class="replaceable"><code>alias</code></em> ] [ ( <em class="replaceable"><code>column_name</code></em> [, ...] ) ]
[ OVERRIDING { SYSTEM | USER} VALUE ]
{ DEFAULT VALUES | VALUES ( { <em class="replaceable"><code>expression</code></em> | DEFAULT } [, ...] ) [, ...] | <em class="replaceable"><code>query</code></em> }
[ ON CONFLICT [ <em class="replaceable"><code>conflict_target</code></em> ] <em class="replaceable"><code>conflict_action</code></em> ]
[ RETURNING * | <em class="replaceable"><code>output_expression</code></em> [ [ AS ] <em class="replaceable"><code>output_name</code></em> ] [, ...] ]
<span class="phrase">where <em class="replaceable"><code>conflict_target</code></em> can be one of:</span>
( { <em class="replaceable"><code>index_column_name</code></em> | ( <em class="replaceable"><code>index_expression</code></em> ) } [ COLLATE <em class="replaceable"><code>collation</code></em> ] [ <em class="replaceable"><code>opclass</code></em> ] [, ...] ) [ WHERE <em class="replaceable"><code>index_predicate</code></em> ]
ON CONSTRAINT <em class="replaceable"><code>constraint_name</code></em>
<span class="phrase">and <em class="replaceable"><code>conflict_action</code></em> is one of:</span>
DO NOTHING
DO UPDATE SET { <em class="replaceable"><code>column_name</code></em> = { <em class="replaceable"><code>expression</code></em> | DEFAULT } |
( <em class="replaceable"><code>column_name</code></em> [, ...] ) = [ ROW ] ( { <em class="replaceable"><code>expression</code></em> | DEFAULT } [, ...] ) |
( <em class="replaceable"><code>column_name</code></em> [, ...] ) = ( <em class="replaceable"><code>sub-SELECT</code></em> )
} [, ...]
[ WHERE <em class="replaceable"><code>condition</code></em> ]
</pre></div><div class="refsect1" id="id-1.9.3.152.5"><h2>Description</h2><p>
<code class="command">INSERT</code> inserts new rows into a table.
One can insert one or more rows specified by value expressions,
or zero or more rows resulting from a query.
</p><p>
The target column names can be listed in any order. If no list of
column names is given at all, the default is all the columns of the
table in their declared order; or the first <em class="replaceable"><code>N</code></em> column
names, if there are only <em class="replaceable"><code>N</code></em> columns supplied by the
<code class="literal">VALUES</code> clause or <em class="replaceable"><code>query</code></em>. The values
supplied by the <code class="literal">VALUES</code> clause or <em class="replaceable"><code>query</code></em> are
associated with the explicit or implicit column list left-to-right.
</p><p>
Each column not present in the explicit or implicit column list will be
filled with a default value, either its declared default value
or null if there is none.
</p><p>
If the expression for any column is not of the correct data type,
automatic type conversion will be attempted.
</p><p>
<code class="literal">ON CONFLICT</code> can be used to specify an alternative
action to raising a unique constraint or exclusion constraint
violation error. (See <a class="xref" href="sql-insert.html#SQL-ON-CONFLICT" title="ON CONFLICT Clause"><code class="literal">ON CONFLICT</code> Clause</a> below.)
</p><p>
The optional <code class="literal">RETURNING</code> clause causes <code class="command">INSERT</code>
to compute and return value(s) based on each row actually inserted
(or updated, if an <code class="literal">ON CONFLICT DO UPDATE</code> clause was
used). This is primarily useful for obtaining values that were
supplied by defaults, such as a serial sequence number. However,
any expression using the table's columns is allowed. The syntax of
the <code class="literal">RETURNING</code> list is identical to that of the output
list of <code class="command">SELECT</code>. Only rows that were successfully
inserted or updated will be returned. For example, if a row was
locked but not updated because an <code class="literal">ON CONFLICT DO UPDATE
... WHERE</code> clause <em class="replaceable"><code>condition</code></em> was not satisfied, the
row will not be returned.
</p><p>
You must have <code class="literal">INSERT</code> privilege on a table in
order to insert into it. If <code class="literal">ON CONFLICT DO UPDATE</code> is
present, <code class="literal">UPDATE</code> privilege on the table is also
required.
</p><p>
If a column list is specified, you only need
<code class="literal">INSERT</code> privilege on the listed columns.
Similarly, when <code class="literal">ON CONFLICT DO UPDATE</code> is specified, you
only need <code class="literal">UPDATE</code> privilege on the column(s) that are
listed to be updated. However, <code class="literal">ON CONFLICT DO UPDATE</code>
also requires <code class="literal">SELECT</code> privilege on any column whose
values are read in the <code class="literal">ON CONFLICT DO UPDATE</code>
expressions or <em class="replaceable"><code>condition</code></em>.
</p><p>
Use of the <code class="literal">RETURNING</code> clause requires <code class="literal">SELECT</code>
privilege on all columns mentioned in <code class="literal">RETURNING</code>.
If you use the <em class="replaceable"><code>query</code></em> clause to insert rows from a
query, you of course need to have <code class="literal">SELECT</code> privilege on
any table or column used in the query.
</p></div><div class="refsect1" id="id-1.9.3.152.6"><h2>Parameters</h2><div class="refsect2" id="SQL-INSERTING-PARAMS"><h3>Inserting</h3><p>
This section covers parameters that may be used when only
inserting new rows. Parameters <span class="emphasis"><em>exclusively</em></span>
used with the <code class="literal">ON CONFLICT</code> clause are described
separately.
</p><div class="variablelist"><dl class="variablelist"><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>with_query</code></em></span></dt><dd><p>
The <code class="literal">WITH</code> clause allows you to specify one or more
subqueries that can be referenced by name in the <code class="command">INSERT</code>
query. See <a class="xref" href="queries-with.html" title="7.8. WITH Queries (Common Table Expressions)">Section 7.8</a> and <a class="xref" href="sql-select.html" title="SELECT"><span class="refentrytitle">SELECT</span></a>
for details.
</p><p>
It is possible for the <em class="replaceable"><code>query</code></em>
(<code class="command">SELECT</code> statement)
to also contain a <code class="literal">WITH</code> clause. In such a case both
sets of <em class="replaceable"><code>with_query</code></em> can be referenced within
the <em class="replaceable"><code>query</code></em>, but the
second one takes precedence since it is more closely nested.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>table_name</code></em></span></dt><dd><p>
The name (optionally schema-qualified) of an existing table.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>alias</code></em></span></dt><dd><p>
A substitute name for <em class="replaceable"><code>table_name</code></em>. When an alias is
provided, it completely hides the actual name of the table.
This is particularly useful when <code class="literal">ON CONFLICT DO UPDATE</code>
targets a table named <code class="varname">excluded</code>, since that will otherwise
be taken as the name of the special table representing rows proposed
for insertion.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>column_name</code></em></span></dt><dd><p>
The name of a column in the table named by <em class="replaceable"><code>table_name</code></em>. The column name
can be qualified with a subfield name or array subscript, if
needed. (Inserting into only some fields of a composite
column leaves the other fields null.) When referencing a
column with <code class="literal">ON CONFLICT DO UPDATE</code>, do not include
the table's name in the specification of a target column. For
example, <code class="literal">INSERT INTO table_name ... ON CONFLICT DO UPDATE
SET table_name.col = 1</code> is invalid (this follows the general
behavior for <code class="command">UPDATE</code>).
</p></dd><dt><span class="term"><code class="literal">OVERRIDING SYSTEM VALUE</code></span></dt><dd><p>
Without this clause, it is an error to specify an explicit value
(other than <code class="literal">DEFAULT</code>) for an identity column defined
as <code class="literal">GENERATED ALWAYS</code>. This clause overrides that
restriction.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term"><code class="literal">OVERRIDING USER VALUE</code></span></dt><dd><p>
If this clause is specified, then any values supplied for identity
columns defined as <code class="literal">GENERATED BY DEFAULT</code> are ignored
and the default sequence-generated values are applied.
</p><p>
This clause is useful for example when copying values between tables.
Writing <code class="literal">INSERT INTO tbl2 OVERRIDING USER VALUE SELECT * FROM
tbl1</code> will copy from <code class="literal">tbl1</code> all columns that
are not identity columns in <code class="literal">tbl2</code> while values for
the identity columns in <code class="literal">tbl2</code> will be generated by
the sequences associated with <code class="literal">tbl2</code>.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term"><code class="literal">DEFAULT VALUES</code></span></dt><dd><p>
All columns will be filled with their default values.
(An <code class="literal">OVERRIDING</code> clause is not permitted in this
form.)
</p></dd><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>expression</code></em></span></dt><dd><p>
An expression or value to assign to the corresponding column.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term"><code class="literal">DEFAULT</code></span></dt><dd><p>
The corresponding column will be filled with
its default value.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>query</code></em></span></dt><dd><p>
A query (<code class="command">SELECT</code> statement) that supplies the
rows to be inserted. Refer to the
<a class="xref" href="sql-select.html" title="SELECT"><span class="refentrytitle">SELECT</span></a>
statement for a description of the syntax.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>output_expression</code></em></span></dt><dd><p>
An expression to be computed and returned by the
<code class="command">INSERT</code> command after each row is inserted or
updated. The expression can use any column names of the table
named by <em class="replaceable"><code>table_name</code></em>. Write
<code class="literal">*</code> to return all columns of the inserted or updated
row(s).
</p></dd><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>output_name</code></em></span></dt><dd><p>
A name to use for a returned column.
</p></dd></dl></div></div><div class="refsect2" id="SQL-ON-CONFLICT"><h3><code class="literal">ON CONFLICT</code> Clause</h3><a id="id-1.9.3.152.6.3.2" class="indexterm"></a><a id="id-1.9.3.152.6.3.3" class="indexterm"></a><p>
The optional <code class="literal">ON CONFLICT</code> clause specifies an
alternative action to raising a unique violation or exclusion
constraint violation error. For each individual row proposed for
insertion, either the insertion proceeds, or, if an
<span class="emphasis"><em>arbiter</em></span> constraint or index specified by
<em class="parameter"><code>conflict_target</code></em> is violated, the
alternative <em class="parameter"><code>conflict_action</code></em> is taken.
<code class="literal">ON CONFLICT DO NOTHING</code> simply avoids inserting
a row as its alternative action. <code class="literal">ON CONFLICT DO
UPDATE</code> updates the existing row that conflicts with the
row proposed for insertion as its alternative action.
</p><p>
<em class="parameter"><code>conflict_target</code></em> can perform
<span class="emphasis"><em>unique index inference</em></span>. When performing
inference, it consists of one or more <em class="replaceable"><code>index_column_name</code></em> columns and/or
<em class="replaceable"><code>index_expression</code></em>
expressions, and an optional <em class="replaceable"><code>index_predicate</code></em>. All <em class="replaceable"><code>table_name</code></em> unique indexes that,
without regard to order, contain exactly the
<em class="parameter"><code>conflict_target</code></em>-specified
columns/expressions are inferred (chosen) as arbiter indexes. If
an <em class="replaceable"><code>index_predicate</code></em> is
specified, it must, as a further requirement for inference,
satisfy arbiter indexes. Note that this means a non-partial
unique index (a unique index without a predicate) will be inferred
(and thus used by <code class="literal">ON CONFLICT</code>) if such an index
satisfying every other criteria is available. If an attempt at
inference is unsuccessful, an error is raised.
</p><p>
<code class="literal">ON CONFLICT DO UPDATE</code> guarantees an atomic
<code class="command">INSERT</code> or <code class="command">UPDATE</code> outcome;
provided there is no independent error, one of those two outcomes
is guaranteed, even under high concurrency. This is also known as
<em class="firstterm">UPSERT</em> — <span class="quote">“<span class="quote">UPDATE or
INSERT</span>”</span>.
</p><div class="variablelist"><dl class="variablelist"><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>conflict_target</code></em></span></dt><dd><p>
Specifies which conflicts <code class="literal">ON CONFLICT</code> takes
the alternative action on by choosing <em class="firstterm">arbiter
indexes</em>. Either performs <span class="emphasis"><em>unique index
inference</em></span>, or names a constraint explicitly. For
<code class="literal">ON CONFLICT DO NOTHING</code>, it is optional to
specify a <em class="parameter"><code>conflict_target</code></em>; when
omitted, conflicts with all usable constraints (and unique
indexes) are handled. For <code class="literal">ON CONFLICT DO
UPDATE</code>, a <em class="parameter"><code>conflict_target</code></em>
<span class="emphasis"><em>must</em></span> be provided.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>conflict_action</code></em></span></dt><dd><p>
<em class="parameter"><code>conflict_action</code></em> specifies an
alternative <code class="literal">ON CONFLICT</code> action. It can be
either <code class="literal">DO NOTHING</code>, or a <code class="literal">DO
UPDATE</code> clause specifying the exact details of the
<code class="literal">UPDATE</code> action to be performed in case of a
conflict. The <code class="literal">SET</code> and
<code class="literal">WHERE</code> clauses in <code class="literal">ON CONFLICT DO
UPDATE</code> have access to the existing row using the
table's name (or an alias), and to rows proposed for insertion
using the special <code class="varname">excluded</code> table.
<code class="literal">SELECT</code> privilege is required on any column in the
target table where corresponding <code class="varname">excluded</code>
columns are read.
</p><p>
Note that the effects of all per-row <code class="literal">BEFORE
INSERT</code> triggers are reflected in
<code class="varname">excluded</code> values, since those effects may
have contributed to the row being excluded from insertion.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>index_column_name</code></em></span></dt><dd><p>
The name of a <em class="replaceable"><code>table_name</code></em> column. Used to
infer arbiter indexes. Follows <code class="command">CREATE
INDEX</code> format. <code class="literal">SELECT</code> privilege on
<em class="replaceable"><code>index_column_name</code></em>
is required.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>index_expression</code></em></span></dt><dd><p>
Similar to <em class="replaceable"><code>index_column_name</code></em>, but used to
infer expressions on <em class="replaceable"><code>table_name</code></em> columns appearing
within index definitions (not simple columns). Follows
<code class="command">CREATE INDEX</code> format. <code class="literal">SELECT</code>
privilege on any column appearing within <em class="replaceable"><code>index_expression</code></em> is required.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>collation</code></em></span></dt><dd><p>
When specified, mandates that corresponding <em class="replaceable"><code>index_column_name</code></em> or
<em class="replaceable"><code>index_expression</code></em>
use a particular collation in order to be matched during
inference. Typically this is omitted, as collations usually
do not affect whether or not a constraint violation occurs.
Follows <code class="command">CREATE INDEX</code> format.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>opclass</code></em></span></dt><dd><p>
When specified, mandates that corresponding <em class="replaceable"><code>index_column_name</code></em> or
<em class="replaceable"><code>index_expression</code></em>
use particular operator class in order to be matched during
inference. Typically this is omitted, as the
<span class="emphasis"><em>equality</em></span> semantics are often equivalent
across a type's operator classes anyway, or because it's
sufficient to trust that the defined unique indexes have the
pertinent definition of equality. Follows <code class="command">CREATE
INDEX</code> format.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>index_predicate</code></em></span></dt><dd><p>
Used to allow inference of partial unique indexes. Any
indexes that satisfy the predicate (which need not actually be
partial indexes) can be inferred. Follows <code class="command">CREATE
INDEX</code> format. <code class="literal">SELECT</code> privilege on any
column appearing within <em class="replaceable"><code>index_predicate</code></em> is required.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>constraint_name</code></em></span></dt><dd><p>
Explicitly specifies an arbiter
<span class="emphasis"><em>constraint</em></span> by name, rather than inferring
a constraint or index.
</p></dd><dt><span class="term"><em class="replaceable"><code>condition</code></em></span></dt><dd><p>
An expression that returns a value of type
<code class="type">boolean</code>. Only rows for which this expression
returns <code class="literal">true</code> will be updated, although all
rows will be locked when the <code class="literal">ON CONFLICT DO UPDATE</code>
action is taken. Note that
<em class="replaceable"><code>condition</code></em> is evaluated last, after
a conflict has been identified as a candidate to update.
</p></dd></dl></div><p>
Note that exclusion constraints are not supported as arbiters with
<code class="literal">ON CONFLICT DO UPDATE</code>. In all cases, only
<code class="literal">NOT DEFERRABLE</code> constraints and unique indexes
are supported as arbiters.
</p><p>
<code class="command">INSERT</code> with an <code class="literal">ON CONFLICT DO UPDATE</code>
clause is a <span class="quote">“<span class="quote">deterministic</span>”</span> statement. This means
that the command will not be allowed to affect any single existing
row more than once; a cardinality violation error will be raised
when this situation arises. Rows proposed for insertion should
not duplicate each other in terms of attributes constrained by an
arbiter index or constraint.
</p><p>
Note that it is currently not supported for the
<code class="literal">ON CONFLICT DO UPDATE</code> clause of an
<code class="command">INSERT</code> applied to a partitioned table to update the
partition key of a conflicting row such that it requires the row be moved
to a new partition.
</p><div class="tip"><h3 class="title">Tip</h3><p>
It is often preferable to use unique index inference rather than
naming a constraint directly using <code class="literal">ON CONFLICT ON
CONSTRAINT</code> <em class="replaceable"><code>
constraint_name</code></em>. Inference will continue to work
correctly when the underlying index is replaced by another more
or less equivalent index in an overlapping way, for example when
using <code class="literal">CREATE UNIQUE INDEX ... CONCURRENTLY</code>
before dropping the index being replaced.
</p></div></div></div><div class="refsect1" id="id-1.9.3.152.7"><h2>Outputs</h2><p>
On successful completion, an <code class="command">INSERT</code> command returns a command
tag of the form
</p><pre class="screen">
INSERT <em class="replaceable"><code>oid</code></em> <em class="replaceable"><code>count</code></em>
</pre><p>
The <em class="replaceable"><code>count</code></em> is the
number of rows inserted or updated. If <em class="replaceable"><code>count</code></em> is exactly one, and the
target table has OIDs, then <em class="replaceable"><code>oid</code></em> is the <acronym class="acronym">OID</acronym>
assigned to the inserted row. The single row must have been
inserted rather than updated. Otherwise <em class="replaceable"><code>oid</code></em> is zero.
</p><p>
If the <code class="command">INSERT</code> command contains a <code class="literal">RETURNING</code>
clause, the result will be similar to that of a <code class="command">SELECT</code>
statement containing the columns and values defined in the
<code class="literal">RETURNING</code> list, computed over the row(s) inserted or
updated by the command.
</p></div><div class="refsect1" id="id-1.9.3.152.8"><h2>Notes</h2><p>
If the specified table is a partitioned table, each row is routed to
the appropriate partition and inserted into it. If the specified table
is a partition, an error will occur if one of the input rows violates
the partition constraint.
</p></div><div class="refsect1" id="id-1.9.3.152.9"><h2>Examples</h2><p>
Insert a single row into table <code class="literal">films</code>:
</p><pre class="programlisting">
INSERT INTO films VALUES
('UA502', 'Bananas', 105, '1971-07-13', 'Comedy', '82 minutes');
</pre><p>
</p><p>
In this example, the <code class="literal">len</code> column is
omitted and therefore it will have the default value:
</p><pre class="programlisting">
INSERT INTO films (code, title, did, date_prod, kind)
VALUES ('T_601', 'Yojimbo', 106, '1961-06-16', 'Drama');
</pre><p>
</p><p>
This example uses the <code class="literal">DEFAULT</code> clause for
the date columns rather than specifying a value:
</p><pre class="programlisting">
INSERT INTO films VALUES
('UA502', 'Bananas', 105, DEFAULT, 'Comedy', '82 minutes');
INSERT INTO films (code, title, did, date_prod, kind)
VALUES ('T_601', 'Yojimbo', 106, DEFAULT, 'Drama');
</pre><p>
</p><p>
To insert a row consisting entirely of default values:
</p><pre class="programlisting">
INSERT INTO films DEFAULT VALUES;
</pre><p>
</p><p>
To insert multiple rows using the multirow <code class="command">VALUES</code> syntax:
</p><pre class="programlisting">
INSERT INTO films (code, title, did, date_prod, kind) VALUES
('B6717', 'Tampopo', 110, '1985-02-10', 'Comedy'),
('HG120', 'The Dinner Game', 140, DEFAULT, 'Comedy');
</pre><p>
</p><p>
This example inserts some rows into table
<code class="literal">films</code> from a table <code class="literal">tmp_films</code>
with the same column layout as <code class="literal">films</code>:
</p><pre class="programlisting">
INSERT INTO films SELECT * FROM tmp_films WHERE date_prod < '2004-05-07';
</pre><p>
</p><p>
This example inserts into array columns:
</p><pre class="programlisting">
-- Create an empty 3x3 gameboard for noughts-and-crosses
INSERT INTO tictactoe (game, board[1:3][1:3])
VALUES (1, '{{" "," "," "},{" "," "," "},{" "," "," "}}');
-- The subscripts in the above example aren't really needed
INSERT INTO tictactoe (game, board)
VALUES (2, '{{X," "," "},{" ",O," "},{" ",X," "}}');
</pre><p>
</p><p>
Insert a single row into table <code class="literal">distributors</code>, returning
the sequence number generated by the <code class="literal">DEFAULT</code> clause:
</p><pre class="programlisting">
INSERT INTO distributors (did, dname) VALUES (DEFAULT, 'XYZ Widgets')
RETURNING did;
</pre><p>
</p><p>
Increment the sales count of the salesperson who manages the
account for Acme Corporation, and record the whole updated row
along with current time in a log table:
</p><pre class="programlisting">
WITH upd AS (
UPDATE employees SET sales_count = sales_count + 1 WHERE id =
(SELECT sales_person FROM accounts WHERE name = 'Acme Corporation')
RETURNING *
)
INSERT INTO employees_log SELECT *, current_timestamp FROM upd;
</pre><p>
</p><p>
Insert or update new distributors as appropriate. Assumes a unique
index has been defined that constrains values appearing in the
<code class="literal">did</code> column. Note that the special
<code class="varname">excluded</code> table is used to reference values originally
proposed for insertion:
</p><pre class="programlisting">
INSERT INTO distributors (did, dname)
VALUES (5, 'Gizmo Transglobal'), (6, 'Associated Computing, Inc')
ON CONFLICT (did) DO UPDATE SET dname = EXCLUDED.dname;
</pre><p>
</p><p>
Insert a distributor, or do nothing for rows proposed for insertion
when an existing, excluded row (a row with a matching constrained
column or columns after before row insert triggers fire) exists.
Example assumes a unique index has been defined that constrains
values appearing in the <code class="literal">did</code> column:
</p><pre class="programlisting">
INSERT INTO distributors (did, dname) VALUES (7, 'Redline GmbH')
ON CONFLICT (did) DO NOTHING;
</pre><p>
</p><p>
Insert or update new distributors as appropriate. Example assumes
a unique index has been defined that constrains values appearing in
the <code class="literal">did</code> column. <code class="literal">WHERE</code> clause is
used to limit the rows actually updated (any existing row not
updated will still be locked, though):
</p><pre class="programlisting">
-- Don't update existing distributors based in a certain ZIP code
INSERT INTO distributors AS d (did, dname) VALUES (8, 'Anvil Distribution')
ON CONFLICT (did) DO UPDATE
SET dname = EXCLUDED.dname || ' (formerly ' || d.dname || ')'
WHERE d.zipcode <> '21201';
-- Name a constraint directly in the statement (uses associated
-- index to arbitrate taking the DO NOTHING action)
INSERT INTO distributors (did, dname) VALUES (9, 'Antwerp Design')
ON CONFLICT ON CONSTRAINT distributors_pkey DO NOTHING;
</pre><p>
</p><p>
Insert new distributor if possible; otherwise
<code class="literal">DO NOTHING</code>. Example assumes a unique index has been
defined that constrains values appearing in the
<code class="literal">did</code> column on a subset of rows where the
<code class="literal">is_active</code> Boolean column evaluates to
<code class="literal">true</code>:
</p><pre class="programlisting">
-- This statement could infer a partial unique index on "did"
-- with a predicate of "WHERE is_active", but it could also
-- just use a regular unique constraint on "did"
INSERT INTO distributors (did, dname) VALUES (10, 'Conrad International')
ON CONFLICT (did) WHERE is_active DO NOTHING;
</pre></div><div class="refsect1" id="id-1.9.3.152.10"><h2>Compatibility</h2><p>
<code class="command">INSERT</code> conforms to the SQL standard, except that
the <code class="literal">RETURNING</code> clause is a
<span class="productname">PostgreSQL</span> extension, as is the ability
to use <code class="literal">WITH</code> with <code class="command">INSERT</code>, and the ability to
specify an alternative action with <code class="literal">ON CONFLICT</code>.
Also, the case in
which a column name list is omitted, but not all the columns are
filled from the <code class="literal">VALUES</code> clause or <em class="replaceable"><code>query</code></em>,
is disallowed by the standard.
</p><p>
The SQL standard specifies that <code class="literal">OVERRIDING SYSTEM VALUE</code>
can only be specified if an identity column that is generated always
exists. PostgreSQL allows the clause in any case and ignores it if it is
not applicable.
</p><p>
Possible limitations of the <em class="replaceable"><code>query</code></em> clause are documented under
<a class="xref" href="sql-select.html" title="SELECT"><span class="refentrytitle">SELECT</span></a>.
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