How can you update data in a SQL table using the UPDATE statement?

You can update data in a SQL table using the UPDATE statement. The UPDATE statement allows you to modify existing records in a table based on specified conditions.

Here's the basic syntax for the UPDATE statement:

UPDATE table_name
SET column1 = value1, column2 = value2, ...
WHERE condition;

• UPDATE: Specifies that you want to update data in a specific table.
• table_name: The name of the table you want to update.
• SET column1 = value1, column2 = value2, ...: Specifies the columns you want to update and the new values you want to set for those columns.
• WHERE condition: Optional, but highly recommended. It specifies the condition that determines which rows will be updated. If you omit the WHERE clause, all rows in the table will be updated.

Here's an example of how to use the UPDATE statement to modify data in a table:

UPDATE products
SET price = 59.99, stock_quantity = 150
WHERE product_id = '12345';

In this example, the UPDATE statement modifies the "price" and "stock_quantity" columns for the product with a "product_id" of '12345' in the "products" table.

You can also update multiple columns in a single UPDATE statement, and you can use different conditions to update specific rows. For example:

UPDATE employees
SET salary = salary * 1.1
WHERE department = 'Engineering';

UPDATE customers
SET status = 'Gold'
WHERE total_purchases > 1000;

These statements update employee salaries for those in the 'Engineering' department and customer statuses for those with total purchases exceeding 1000.

It's crucial to be cautious when using the UPDATE statement, especially without a WHERE clause, as it can potentially modify a large number of rows. Always double-check your conditions to ensure you're updating the right records. Additionally, consider making a backup of your data before performing mass updates to mitigate the risk of unintended data changes.