Create MySQL Tables

To begin with, the table creation command requires the following details −
Name of the table
Name of the fields
Definitions for each field
Here is a generic SQL syntax to create a MySQL table −
CREATE TABLE table_name (column_name column_type);

Now, we will create the following table in the TUTORIALS database.
create table tutorials_tbl(
   tutorial_id INT NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT,
   tutorial_title VARCHAR(100) NOT NULL,
   tutorial_author VARCHAR(40) NOT NULL,
   submission_date DATE,
   PRIMARY KEY ( tutorial_id )
);
Here, a few items need explanation −
Field Attribute NOT NULL is being used because we do not want this field to be NULL. So, if a user will try to create a record with a NULL value, then MySQL will raise an error.
Field Attribute NOT NULL is being used because we do not want this field to be NULL. So, if a user will try to create a record with a NULL value, then MySQL will raise an error.
Field Attribute AUTO_INCREMENT tells MySQL to go ahead and add the next available number to the id field.
Field Attribute AUTO_INCREMENT tells MySQL to go ahead and add the next available number to the id field.
Keyword PRIMARY KEY is used to define a column as a primary key. You can use multiple columns separated by a comma to define a primary key.
Keyword PRIMARY KEY is used to define a column as a primary key. You can use multiple columns separated by a comma to define a primary key.
It is easy to create a MySQL table from the mysql> prompt. You will use the SQL command CREATE TABLE to create a table.
Here is an example, which will create tutorials_tbl −
root@host# mysql -u root -p
Enter password:*******
mysql> use TUTORIALS;
Database changed
mysql> CREATE TABLE tutorials_tbl(
   -> tutorial_id INT NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT,
   -> tutorial_title VARCHAR(100) NOT NULL,
   -> tutorial_author VARCHAR(40) NOT NULL,
   -> submission_date DATE,
   -> PRIMARY KEY ( tutorial_id )
   -> );
Query OK, 0 rows affected (0.16 sec)
mysql>
NOTE − MySQL does not terminate a command until you give a semicolon (;) at the end of SQL command.
PHP uses mysqli query() or mysql_query() function to create a MySQL table. This function takes two parameters and returns TRUE on success or FALSE on failure.
$mysqli->query($sql,$resultmode)

$sql
Required - SQL query to create a MySQL table.
$resultmode
Optional - Either the constant MYSQLI_USE_RESULT or MYSQLI_STORE_RESULT depending on the desired behavior. By default, MYSQLI_STORE_RESULT is used.
Try the following example to create a table −
Copy and paste the following example as mysql_example.php −
<html>
   <head>
      <title>Creating MySQL Table</title>
   </head>
   <body>
      <?php
         $dbhost = 'localhost';
         $dbuser = 'root';
         $dbpass = 'root@123';
         $dbname = 'TUTORIALS';
         $mysqli = new mysqli($dbhost, $dbuser, $dbpass, $dbname);
         
         if($mysqli->connect_errno ) {
            printf("Connect failed: %s<br />", $mysqli->connect_error);
            exit();
         }
         printf('Connected successfully.<br />');
   
         $sql = "CREATE TABLE tutorials_tbl( ".
            "tutorial_id INT NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT, ".
            "tutorial_title VARCHAR(100) NOT NULL, ".
            "tutorial_author VARCHAR(40) NOT NULL, ".
            "submission_date DATE, ".
            "PRIMARY KEY ( tutorial_id )); ";
         if ($mysqli->query($sql)) {
            printf("Table tutorials_tbl created successfully.<br />");
         }
         if ($mysqli->errno) {
            printf("Could not create table: %s<br />", $mysqli->error);
         }

         $mysqli->close();
      ?>
   </body>
</html>
Access the mysql_example.php deployed on apache web server and verify the output.
Connected successfully.
Table tutorials_tbl created successfully.