---
tags:
  - Programming_Languages
  - Databases
  - sql
---

# SQL: The UPDATE clause

With UPDATE we modify existing records.

## Schematic syntax

````sql
UPDATE [table_name]
SET [field]
WHERE [conditional expression/filter]
````

## Real example

````sql
UPDATE manufacturer
SET url = '<http://www.hp.co.uk>'
WHERE manufacturer_id = 4; --typically this will be the primary key as you are updating and existing record and need to identify it uniquely
````

## Multiple fields

````sql
UPDATE manufacturer
SET url = '<http://www.apple.co.uk>',
    year_founded = 1977
WHERE manufacturer_id = 2;
````