Chapter 4. INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE (I/U/D) Statements

In this Chapter:

Introduction to INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE (I/U/D) Statements

While YQL SELECT statements allow you to read structured data from almost any source on the Web, their expressed purpose is only to read data.

To perform data manipulation, YQL provides three other SQL-like keywords for writing, updating, and deleting data mapped using a YQL Open Data Table, namely INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE (I/U/D).

The INSERT statement inserts or adds new data to YQL tables, while the UPDATE statement updates or modifies existing data. DELETE, as the name implies, removes data.

I/U/D statements require the proper binding inputs, such as key, value, or map. The actual addition, modification, or deletion of data is performed within the Open Data Table.


Most sources that provide write capability need authentication. Examples of authentication include username/password combinations or secret API tokens.

If your table requires input that is deemed "private", such as any passwords, authentication keys, or other "secrets", you MUST ensure the https attribute within the tables element is set to true.

For more information on about securing private data in Open Data Tables, refer to Ensuring the Security of Private Information.

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