SQL28 May 20264 min read

SELECT with FROM

A beginner-friendly guide to using SELECT and FROM together to read specific columns from a table in SQL Server.

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What does SELECT with FROM mean?Basic syntax Sample table Reading specific columns SELECT * vs column names Key takeaway

What does SELECT with FROM mean?

SELECT and FROM are commonly used together when reading stored table data.

SELECTSELECT chooses the columns you want to see.

FROMFROM chooses the table where the data comes from.

iSELECT says what to show. FROM says where to get it from.

Basic syntax

The basic structure is simple: list the column names after SELECT, then write the table name after FROM.

SELECT
    column_name
FROM table_name;

Here is a practical example using an Employees table.

SELECT
    employee_name,
    department
FROM Employees;

iThis query reads the employee_name and department columns from the Employees table.

!A SELECT query needs a source table when reading stored table data.

Sample table

We will use this Employees table to understand how SELECT and FROM work together.

TEmployees Table

employee_idemployee_namedepartmentsalary

1Amelia BrownSales42000

2James WilsonIT52000

3Olivia TaylorSales46000

4Noah HarrisHR39000

Reading specific columns

This query selects only the columns listed after SELECT.

SELECT
    employee_name,
    department
FROM Employees;

ROutput

employee_namedepartment

Amelia BrownSales

James WilsonIT

Olivia TaylorSales

Noah HarrisHR

iSELECT chooses the columns. FROM chooses the table.

SELECT * vs column names

SELECT * returns every column from the table.

SELECT *
FROM Employees;

This is useful for quick checking, but in real projects it is usually better to list only the columns you need.

SELECT *

SELECT *
FROM Employees;

Returns every column from the table.

Better example

SELECT
    employee_name,
    salary
FROM Employees;

Select only the columns you actually need.

Key takeaway

SELECT chooses the columns. FROM chooses the table.Together, they form the base of most SQL queries. Where possible, list the specific columns you need instead of using SELECT *.

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Basic syntax

The basic structure is simple: list the column names after SELECT, then write the table name after FROM.

SELECT
    column_name
FROM table_name;

Here is a practical example using an Employees table.

SELECT
    employee_name,
    department
FROM Employees;

iThis query reads the employee_name and department columns from the Employees table.

!A SELECT query needs a source table when reading stored table data.

SELECT * vs column names

SELECT * returns every column from the table.

SELECT *
FROM Employees;

This is useful for quick checking, but in real projects it is usually better to list only the columns you need.

SELECT *

SELECT *
FROM Employees;

Returns every column from the table.

Better example

SELECT
    employee_name,
    salary
FROM Employees;

Select only the columns you actually need.