When you construct a table or dataset, it’s crucial to comprehend the principles of quotes in MySQL. There are three varieties of quotes: single quotes, double quotes, and backticks. Grasping these quotes is vital, as incorrect placement can lead to execution errors. In this article, you’ll discover the proper usage of single quotes, double quotes, and backticks in MySQL, complete with examples.

Table of Contents:

• What are Single Quotes (‘) in MySQL?
  • When should you employ single quotes (‘) in MySQL?
• What are Double Quotes (“) in MySQL?
  • When should you utilize double quotes (“) in MySQL?
• What are Backticks (`) for Identifiers in MySQL?
  • When should you use backticks (`) for identifiers in MySQL?
• Key distinctions when utilizing single quotes, double quotes, and backticks in MySQL
• Performance Factors
• Applications
• Practical Examples
• Summary

Let’s craft a table to demonstrate the application of single quotes, double quotes, and backticks in MySQL.

-- Create the flight table
CREATE TABLE flights (
    flight_number INT NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY,
    departure_city VARCHAR(50) NOT NULL,
    arrival_city VARCHAR(50) NOT NULL,
    status VARCHAR(20) NOT NULL
);

-- Insert sample records
INSERT INTO flights (flight_number, departure_city, arrival_city, status) VALUES
(101, 'New York', 'London', 'On Time'),
(202, 'Paris', 'Dubai', 'Delayed'),
(303, 'India', 'Tokyo', 'Cancelled'),
(404, 'Dubai', 'India', 'On Time'),
(505, 'Singapore', 'Sydney', 'Delayed');
SELECT * FROM flights;

Output:

What are Single Quotes (‘) in MySQL?

In MySQL, a single quote (‘) is necessary for string literals. It’s employed to denote string values in queries like SELECT, INSERT, and UPDATE statements.

Syntax:

SELECT * FROM table_name WHERE column_name = 'string_value';

Example:

SELECT * FROM flights WHERE departure_city = 'Paris';

Output:

Clarification: In this instance, the SELECT query utilized the single quotes (‘) to identify the flight that needs to be retrieved, and the specified departure city was successfully fetched using the WHERE clause.

When to employ single quotes (‘) in MySQL?

Single quotes (‘) should be used when comparing strings within a table under the WHERE clause. They are also applicable when you need to add or reference a new string in the table.

What are Double Quotes (“) in MySQL?

Double Quotes (“) in MySQL function similarly to single quotes (‘). They are used to define string values in a table. However, ensure that ANSI mode is disabled in your compiler when utilizing double quotes. With ANSI mode activated, double quotes will be interpreted as backticks when enclosing identifiers.

Syntax:

SELECT "column_name" FROM "table_name";

Condition 1: When ANSI mode is OFF

SELECT "Flight Code", "Status" FROM flights;

Output:

Clarification: In this scenario, when ANSI mode is OFF, the compiler interprets the enclosed value as a string. Instead of retrieving column values, it prints the literal text placed inside the double quotes.

Condition 2: When ANSI mode is ON

SET sql_mode = 'ANSI_QUOTES';
SELECT "flight_number", "status" FROM flights;

Output:

Clarification: Here, with ANSI mode ON, double quotes act like backticks for identifiers. Thus, instead of displaying a string, ANSI_QUOTES interprets the content within the double quotes as a column name, fetching the values within that specific column.

When to Utilize Double Quotes (“) in MySQL?

• Double quotes (“) in MySQL are particularly effective when used with ANSI mode enabled.
• This will switch the compiler from SQL_mode to ANSI_QUOTES mode, allowing double quotes (“) to act as backticks.
• This is not the standard setting in MySQL server, so you should use SET sql_mode = ‘ANSI_QUOTES’ to enable it.

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turns ON the ANSI mode.

What are Backticks (`) for Identifiers in MySQL?

The backticks in MySQL serve as delimiters for identifiers, utilized to encompass column names, table names, and database names that include reserved keywords or unique characters.

Syntax:

SELECT `column_name` FROM `table_name`;

Example:

SELECT `flight_number`, `departure_city`, `status` FROM `flights`;

Output:

Explanation: In this case, the backticks include the specified column name, aiding in retrieving the values from the designated column.

When to Utilize Backticks (`) for Identifiers in MySQL?

• Backticks (`) should be employed for Identifiers when there are reserved keywords or special characters present.
• They are beneficial as they prevent issues related to case sensitivity in MySQL.
• They can be applied when you want to extract a specific column within a table.

Key Distinctions Among Single Quotes, Double Quotes, and Backticks in MySQL

Performance Considerations

• Single Quotes (‘): Usage of single quotes with numeric values may lead to reduced efficiency.
• Double Quotes (“): They will cause an error if used without activating ANSI mode. It’s necessary to ensure that the ANSI_QUOTES mode is ON before applying double quotes.
• Backticks (`): These have no impact on performance; however, they should be utilized when reserved keywords or special characters are involved to avoid complications.

Use Cases

1. Quotes can be employed to compare text values between strings.
2. Single quotes can facilitate the insertion of values into a table.
3. Backticks are useful for querying columns or databases containing special characters.
4. Double quotes are applied in ANSI mode for querying identifiers.

Real-World Examples

Case 1: To retrieve appointment details for a specific patient

CREATE TABLE `patients` (
    `patient_id` INT PRIMARY KEY,
    `patient_name` VARCHAR(100) NOT NULL,
    `condition` VARCHAR(100) NOT NULL,
    `appointment_date` DATE NOT NULL,
    `status` VARCHAR(50) NOT NULL
);
INSERT INTO `patients` (`patient_id`, `patient_name`, `condition`, `appointment_date`, `status`) VALUES
(1, 'Dhanu', 'Diabetes', '2025-03-20', 'Scheduled'),
(2, 'Prithvi', 'Asthma', '2025-03-21', 'Completed'),
(3, 'Arun', 'Hypertension', '2025-03-22', 'Cancelled');
SELECT * FROM `patients` WHERE `condition` = 'Diabetes';

Output:

Explanation: In this example, the single quotes indicate the name of the illness, and the WHERE clause extracts the details of the patient diagnosed with diabetes.

Case 2: To verify the status of a previously booked movie ticket.

CREATE TABLE `bookings` (
    `booking_id` INT PRIMARY KEY,
    `customer_name` VARCHAR(100) NOT NULL,
    `movie_name` VARCHAR(100) NOT NULL,
    `show_time` DATETIME NOT NULL,
    `status` VARCHAR(50) NOT NULL
);
INSERT INTO `bookings` (`booking_id`, `customer_name`, `movie_name`, `show_time`, `status`) VALUES
(101, 'Anjum', 'Chaava', '2025-03-20 18:30:00', 'Confirmed'),
(102, 'Bhuvan', 'Mowgli', '2025-03-21 20:00:00', 'Cancelled'),
(103, 'Gaurav', 'Joker', '2025-03-22 17:00:00', 'Confirmed');
SET sql_mode = 'ANSI_QUOTES';  
SELECT "customer_name", "status" FROM bookings;

Output:

Explanation: In this scenario, the double quotes have retrieved the booking status alongside the customer’s name when ANSI mode is active.

Case 3: To obtain all loan details from the bank, organized by application date.

Example:

CREATE TABLE `loans` (
    `loan_id` INT PRIMARY KEY,
    `customer_name` VARCHAR(100) NOT NULL,
    `amount` DECIMAL(10,2) NOT NULL,
    `type` VARCHAR(50) NOT NULL, 
    `status` VARCHAR(50) NOT NULL, 
    `date` DATE NOT NULL 
);
INSERT INTO `loans` (`loan_id`, `customer_name`, `amount`, `type`, `status`, `date`) VALUES
(1, 'John Doe', 50000.00, 'Home Loan', 'Approved', '2025-04-01'),
(2, 'Jane Smith', 20000.00, 'Car Loan', 'Pending', '2025-04-05'),
(3, 'Alice Brown', 10000.00, 'Personal Loan', 'Rejected', '2025-04-10');
SELECT * FROM `loans` ORDER BY `date` ASC;

Output:

Explanation: In this instance, the ‘type,’ ‘status,’ and ‘date’ represent reserved keywords that retrieved the loan’s status and date.

Conclusion

Quotes play a vital role in…
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Formulate an error-free query using SQL. Single quotes (‘) are utilized to integrate text as string literals, double quotes (“) are employed in the ANSI mode, and backticks (`) are applicable when dealing with special characters. You can apply these quotes according to your needs. From this, you would have grasped the appropriate scenarios for utilizing single quotes (‘), double quotes (“), and backticks (`) in MySQL.

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When to apply single quotes, double quotes, and backticks in MySQL – FAQs

The article Single Quotes, Double Quotes, and Backticks in MySQL was originally published on Intellipaat Blog.

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