With SQLite, where is the as keyword optional, and what difference does adding it make, if any?

Question

Currently I am learning Python programming for manipulating SQLite database, and I am a bit confused with the following SQL statement which works.

SELECT * 
FROM student s, result r
WHERE s.studentid = r.studentid

When we give an alias to a table, we're taught to use the 'as' keyword before an alias, and the above SQL statement should be like this one:

SELECT * 
FROM student as s, result as r
WHERE s.studentid = r.studentid

Is the above SQL statement also correct?
What situation don't I need to add the keyboard 'as'?
Adding the keyword 'as' depends on our preferences? We can choose to add it or omit it randomly?

Tip of today: Always use modern, explicit JOIN syntax. Easier to write (without errors), easier to read and maintain, and easier to convert to outer join if needed! — jarlh
– jarlh, Commented Sep 25 at 11:46

Dale K · Accepted Answer · 2025-09-27 01:51:12Z

2

The ALIAS (AS) statement is used to provide a temporary name to a column of a table, aggregate function column or a table itself. A alias name exists for only for the duration of the query.

It is optional, but I would recommend using it.

Consider the following code (it might be a lot more columns)

SELECT column1 gender, column2 age, column3, column4

You might skip a/some comma/s and the following query would look like correct code as well but not the same as the one above

SELECT column1 gender, column2 age, column3 column4  -- note the missing comma between column3, column4

I have found on the official insert statement the usage of the alias, it might be described elsewhere as well, but it will be the same.

In your case those queries would be better written as:

SELECT s.*, r.* 
FROM student AS s
INNER JOIN result AS r ON s.studentid = r.studentid

edited Sep 27 at 1:51

Dale K

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answered Sep 25 at 13:23

Ergest Basha

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Comments

Baptiste · Accepted Answer · 2025-09-25 12:38:34Z

0

Both are correct, keyword 'as' is recommended to make the renaming and makes your query more readable

answered Sep 25 at 12:38

Baptiste

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1 Comment

Community Sep 25 at 14:32

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