Creación de Tablas en MySQL con Tipos de Datos Esenciales

Learning how to create and manage tables in MySQL is key for any developer or professional working with relational databases. Here we will explore step by step how to create tables efficiently in MySQL with clear and simple examples using the most essential data types such as VARCHAR, INT, FLOAT and TEXT, and how to manage tables with useful commands such as SHOW TABLES, DESCRIBE and DROP TABLE.

How to create a simple table in MySQL?

To create a table in MySQL, we use the CREATE TABLE statement. It is advisable to write reserved words in capital letters for easy identification. A basic example would be:

CREATE  TABLE clients  (  name  VARCHAR(100),  email  VARCHAR(60),  phone  VARCHAR(15));

• VARCHAR allows to store short texts.
• It is necessary to set how many characters we want to reserve as maximum for each field.

What common data types are used in MySQL?

Among the most frequent types are:

• VARCHAR: for short texts, requires specifying the maximum number of characters.
• TEXT: for long texts (approximately up to 70 thousand characters).
• INT or INTEGER: whole numbers, without decimals.
• FLOAT: numbers with decimals.

The choice will depend on the data to be stored and how it will be used later.

Practical difference between VARCHAR and TEXT

The main difference is the length and the practical use:

• VARCHAR is ideal for short fields such as names or emails.
• TEXT is more useful for long and detailed descriptions.

Example of the creation of a table with both types:

CREATE  TABLE products  (  name  VARCHAR(20),  SKU  VARCHAR(15),   slog  VARCHAR(20),  description  TEXT,  price  FLOAT);

What basic commands do I have in MySQL to manage tables?

In MySQL, some of the most useful commands to manage your databases are:

• SHOW TABLES: shows all existing tables.
• DESCRIBE table_name: shows the structure and data type of a specific table.
• SHOW CREATE TABLE table_name: shows the exact SQL command used to create that table.
• DROP TABLE table_name: deletes a table and all the information it contains permanently.

Practical examples:

• To know the complete structure of a table:

DESCRIBE products;

• To see exactly how a table was originally created:

SHOW CREATE  TABLE products;

• To delete a table you no longer need:

DROP  TABLE clients;

Remember that DROP TABLE will delete all information, so use it with caution.