What is bulk insert in SQL?

What is BULK INSERT in SQL?

In SQL, the BULK INSERT statement is used to import a large number of rows of data from a file into a database table.

This statement is typically used to perform high-performance data import operations, such as importing data from a flat file (e.g. CSV or TXT) into a SQL Server database.

Here is an example of how to use the BULK INSERT statement in SQL:

BULK INSERT dbo.users
FROM 'C:\data\users.txt'
WITH
(
    FORMAT = 'CSV',
    FIELDTERMINATOR = ',',
    ROWTERMINATOR = '\n',
    FIRSTROW = 2
);

In this example, the BULK INSERT statement is used to import data from the users.txt file into the dbo.users table in a SQL Server database. The FORMAT, FIELDTERMINATOR, ROWTERMINATOR, and FIRSTROW options are used to specify the format of the data in the file and how it should be imported into the table.

The BULK INSERT statement is typically much faster than other methods of importing data into a database, such as using the INSERT statement.

However, it is only supported in SQL Server and not in other database management systems. Additionally, the BULK INSERT statement has certain limitations and restrictions, such as requiring the data file to be on the same machine as the SQL Server instance.

Why is BULK INSERT faster than INSERT?

In general, the BULK INSERT statement is faster than the INSERT statement for importing large amounts of data into a SQL Server database.

This is because the BULK INSERT statement is optimized for high-performance data import operations, and it is able to import data from a file directly into the database without having to go through the network layer.

However, the exact performance difference between the BULK INSERT and INSERT statements can vary depending on a number of factors, such as the size and format of the data being imported, the hardware and software configuration of the database server, and the network latency between the server and the data file.

If you are importing a large amount of data into a SQL Server database and you want to optimize the performance of the data import operation, you should consider using the BULK INSERT statement instead of the INSERT statement.

However, it's important to note that the BULK INSERT statement has certain limitations and restrictions, such as requiring the data file to be on the same machine as the SQL Server instance. You should carefully review these limitations and restrictions before using the BULK INSERT statement in your environment.

Conclusion

In SQL, the BULK INSERT statement is used to import a large number of rows of data from a file into a database table.