A Simple Guide to Common Table Expressions
Creating cleaner and simpler SQL code
A common table expression (CTE) is a temporary result set that stores intermediate results. They are an incredibly powerful tool that SQL developers can use to solve complex problems and simplify complicated queries.
These queries make it possible for developers to work with data more efficiently and effectively. CTEs are also helpful when performing multiple operations on the same set of data.
In this article, you will learn what these common table expressions are, how to create them, and the advantages of using CTEs.
What are common table expressions?
Common table expressions (CTEs) store data in a single table using the WITH keyword. The data is stored as columns and rows, and the column names can be different from the table name.
A CTE is a simple way of creating a temporary table that can be joined within an SQL query. CTEs are often used for more complex queries, need to be efficient with repetition, or need the ability to use JOINs, UNIONs, aggregating functions, or subqueries.
