# Select Star

*noun*

say it: **“suh-LEKT STAR”** **/səˈlɛkt stɑːr/**

SELECT \*, a query that returns every column of a table.

## What is **Select Star** in SQL?

**Select Star** — `SELECT *`, a query that returns every column of a table. It's handy for a first look at a table you don't know yet; in an app, name the columns you need instead, so a new column never surprises your code.

```sql
SELECT * FROM Shippers;   -- ShipperID, CompanyName, Phone
```

## In a sentence

- “I ran a **select star** on Shippers just to see which columns it has.”

Level: Novice · [More SQL terms at this level](https://www.ask-codey.com/glossary?category=sql&level=1)

Updated: October 28, 2026

Source: https://www.ask-codey.com/glossary/select-star