MySQL Temporary Table

The MySQL can create temporary tables that are session-specific and exist only for the duration of a database session. Temporary tables are useful for storing intermediate results or temporary data that is specific to a single database session. Here’s how to create and use temporary tables in MySQL:

Create a Temporary Table:

CREATE TEMPORARY TABLE temp_table_name (
  column1 datatype,
  column2 datatype,
  ...
);

• temp_table_name: The name of the temporary table.
• column1, column2, ...: The column names and data types for the temporary table.

Example:

CREATE TEMPORARY TABLE temp_students (
  student_id INT,
  first_name VARCHAR(50),
  last_name VARCHAR(50)
);

This statement creates a temporary table named “temp_students” with columns for student information.

Insert Data into a Temporary Table:

You can insert data into a temporary table just like you would with a regular table using the INSERT INTO statement.

INSERT INTO temp_students (student_id, first_name, last_name)
VALUES (1, 'John', 'Doe');

Retrieve Data from a Temporary Table:

You can query and retrieve data from a temporary table using SELECT statements.

SELECT * FROM temp_students;

Drop a Temporary Table:

Temporary tables are automatically dropped when your database session ends, so there’s no need to explicitly drop them. However, if you want to drop a temporary table explicitly during your session, you can use the DROP TABLE statement just like you would for a regular table.

DROP TEMPORARY TABLE temp_students;

Keep in mind the following points about temporary tables:

1. Temporary tables are only visible and accessible within the session that created them. They are not visible to other database sessions or connections.
2. Temporary tables are automatically dropped when you end your database session (e.g., when you log out or disconnect).
3. Temporary tables can have the same name as regular tables, but they won’t conflict because of their session-specific nature.
4. You can use temporary tables in complex queries, temporary result storage, and intermediate processing during your database session.
5. Temporary tables can be very useful for optimizing complex queries or breaking down large tasks into smaller, manageable steps.

Always be mindful of the temporary nature of these tables and the potential loss of data when your session ends.