DEFAULT Clause

A clause providing a value when an INSERT omits the column.

What does DEFAULT Clause do in a relational database?

DEFAULT Clause — A clause providing a value when an INSERT omits the column.

CREATE TABLE customer (
    customer_id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY,
    email CHARACTER VARYING(255) NOT NULL,
    status CHARACTER VARYING(20) DEFAULT 'active'
);

Level: Novice · More Database terms at this level

Updated September 27, 2026