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What is a view (VIEW) in SQL?

A view (VIEW) is a virtual table created from an SQL query's result.

It doesn't store data physically, instead it runs the specified query against the source tables every time it's accessed.

Example

sql
CREATE VIEW active_users AS SELECT id, name, email FROM users WHERE is_active = 1;

Now you can use it like a regular table:

sql
SELECT * FROM active_users;

Advantages

  • simplifies complex queries,
  • hides unnecessary fields (improving security),
  • helps keep the data structure clean.

Essentially, a VIEW is a saved SELECT that makes working with data more convenient and clear.

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