Inserts, Updates, and Deletes

The following methods all have the same return value:
{
    "result": "Value of the `result` parameter to `queryExecute`",
    "query": "Return value of running `queryExecute` - a CFML query object"
}
insert, update, and delete actions always return a query object for query, regardless of your configured returnFormat.
insert
Name
Type
Required
Default
Description
values
struct | array<struct>
true
​
A struct or array of structs to insert in to the table.
options
struct
false
{}
Any additional queryExecute options.
toSQL
boolean
false
false
If true, returns the raw SQL string instead of running the query. Useful for debugging.
This call must come after setting the query's table using from or table.
You can insert a single record by passing a struct:
QueryBuilder
query.from( "users" )
    .insert( {
        "name" = "Robert",
        "email" = "[email protected]",
        "age" = 55
    } );
MySQL
INSERT INTO `users` (`age`, `email`, `name`)
VALUES (?, ?, ?)
You can specify any query param options such as the SQL type by passing a struct with the parameters you would pass to cfqueryparam.
QueryBuilder
query.from( "users" )
    .insert( {
        "name" = "Robert",
        "email" = "[email protected]",
        "age" = { value = 55, cfsqltype = "CF_SQL_INTEGER" }
    } );
MySQL
INSERT INTO `users` (`age`, `email`, `name`)
VALUES (?, ?, ?)
Raw values can be supplied to an insert statement.
QueryBuilder
query.from( "users" )
    .insert( {
        "name" = "Robert",
        "email" = "[email protected]",
        "updatedDate" = query.raw( "NOW()" )
    } );
MySQL
INSERT INTO `users` (`age`, `email`, `updatedDate`)
VALUES (?, ?, NOW())
Multiple rows can be inserted in a batch by passing an array of structs to insert.
This is not the same as looping over and array and calling insert in the loop.  Using an array with insert will batch the inserts in one SQL call.  Looping over an array and calling insert each time will create a SQL request for each item in the array.  Bottom line, pass your array to insert!
QueryBuilder
query.from( "users" ).insert( [
    { "email" = "[email protected]", "name" = "John Doe" },
    { "email" = "[email protected]", "name" = "Jane Doe" }
] );
MySQL
Oracle
INSERT INTO `users` (`email`, `name`)
VALUES (?, ?), (?, ?)
INSERT ALL
INTO "USERS" ("EMAIL", "NAME") VALUES (?, ?)
INTO "USERS" ("EMAIL", "NAME") VALUES (?, ?)
SELECT 1 FROM dual
insertIgnore
Name
Type
Required
Default
Description
values
struct | array<struct>
true
​
A struct or array of structs to insert in to the table.
target
array<string>
false
[]
An array of key column names to match on. (SQL Server and Oracle grammars only.)
options
struct
false
{}
Any additional queryExecute options.
toSQL
boolean
false
false
If true, returns the raw SQL string instead of running the query. Useful for debugging.
This call must come after setting the query's table using from or table.
Inserts data into a table while ignoring duplicate key conflicts.
target is only required for SQLServerGrammar and OracleGrammar
QueryBuilder
query.from( "users" )
    .insertIgnore(
        values = [
            { "email" = "foo", "name" = "bar" },
            { "email" = "baz", "name" = "bam" }
        ],
        target = [ "email" ]
    );
MySQL
SQL Server
Postgres
Oracle
INSERT IGNORE INTO `users` (`email`, `name`)
VALUES (?, ?), (?, ?)
MERGE [users] AS [qb_target]
USING (VALUES (?, ?), (?, ?)) AS [qb_src] ([email], [name])
ON [qb_target].[email] = [qb_src].[email]
WHEN NOT MATCHED BY TARGET THEN
INSERT ([email], [name]) VALUES ([email], [name]);
INSERT INTO "users" ("email", "name")
VALUES (?, ?), (?, ?)
ON CONFLICT DO NOTHING
MERGE INTO "USERS" "QB_TARGET"
USING (SELECT ?, ? FROM dual UNION ALL SELECT ?, ? FROM dual) "QB_SRC"
ON "QB_TARGET"."EMAIL" = "QB_SRC"."EMAIL"
WHEN NOT MATCHED THEN
INSERT ("EMAIL", "NAME")
VALUES ("QB_SRC"."EMAIL", "QB_SRC"."NAME")
insertUsing
Name
Type
Required
Default
Description
source
function | QueryBuilder
true
​
A callback or builder instance to serve as the source of the insert.
columns
array<string>
false
​
An array of column names that will be inserted. If no columns are passed, the columns will be derived from the source columns and aliases.
options
struct
false
{}
Any additional queryExecute options.
toSQL
boolean
false
false
If true, returns the raw SQL string instead of running the query. Useful for debugging.
This call must come after setting the query's table using from or table.
Inserts data into a table using a subquery as the source.
qb.from( "users" )
    .insertUsing( function( q ) {
        q.from( "activeDirectoryUsers" )
            .select( [ "email", "modifiedDate AS createdDate" ] )
            .where( "active", 1 );
    } );
INSERT INTO `users` (`email`, `createdDate`)
SELECT `email`, `modifiedDate` AS `createdDate`
FROM `activeDirectoryUsers`
WHERE `active` = ?
You can also pass in an array of column names to avoid aliasing in your source query.
qb.from( "users" )
    .insertUsing(
        columns = [ "email", "createdDate" ],
        source = function( q ) {
            q.from( "activeDirectoryUsers" )
                 .select( [ "email", "modifiedDate" ] )
                 .where( "active", 1 );
        }
    );
INSERT INTO `users` (`email`, `createdDate`)
SELECT `email`, `modifiedDate`
FROM `activeDirectoryUsers`
WHERE `active` = ?
Alternatively, the source can be defined as a QueryBuilder object:
qb.from( "users" )
    .insertUsing(
        qb.newQuery()
            .from( "activeDirectoryUsers" )
            .select( [ "email", "modifiedDate AS createdDate" ] )
            .where( "active", 1 )
    );
INSERT INTO `users` (`email`, `createdDate`)
SELECT `email`, `modifiedDate` AS `createdDate`
FROM `activeDirectoryUsers`
WHERE `active` = ?
returning
Name
Type
Required
Default
Description
columns
string | array
true
​
A single column, a list or columns, or an array of columns to return from the inserted query.
returning is only supported in PostgresGrammar and SqlServerGrammar.  Using this method on unsupported grammars will result in an UnsupportedOperation exception.  Be aware that using this method constrains your grammar choices.
Specifies columns to be returned from the insert query.
QueryBuilder
query.from( "users" )
    .returning( "id" )
    .insert( {
        "email" = "foo",
        "name" = "bar"
    } );
SQL Server
Postgres
INSERT INTO [users] ([email], [name])
OUTPUT INSERTED.[id]
VALUES (?, ?)
INSERT INTO "users" ("email", "name")
VALUES (?, ?)
RETURNING "id"
update
Name
Type
Required
Default
Description
values
struct
false
{}
A struct of column and value pairs to update.  These column and value pairs are appended to any already set with the addUpdate method.
options
struct
false
{}
Any additional queryExecute options.
toSQL
boolean
false
false
If true, returns the raw SQL string instead of running the query. Useful for debugging.
This call must come after setting the query's table using from or table.
Updates a table with a struct of column and value pairs.
QueryBuilder
query.from( "users" )
    .update( {
        "email" = "foo",
        "name" = "bar"
    } );
MySQL
UPDATE `users`
SET `email` = ?,
    `name` = ?
You can specify any query param options such as the SQL type by passing a struct with the parameters you would pass to cfqueryparam.
QueryBuilder
query.from( "users" )
    .update( {
        "email" = "foo",
        "name" = "bar",
        "updatedDate" = { value = now(), cfsqltype = "CF_SQL_TIMESTAMP" }
    } );
MySQL
UPDATE `users`
SET `email` = ?,
    `name` = ?,
    `updatedDate` = ?
Any constraining of the update query should be done using the appropriate WHERE statement before calling update.
QueryBuilder
query.from( "users" )
    .whereId( 1 )
    .update( {
        "email" = "foo",
        "name" = "bar"
    } );
MySQL
UPDATE `users`
SET `email` = ?,
    `name` = ?
WHERE `Id` = ?
You can update a column based on another column using a raw expression.
QueryBuilder
query.from( "hits" )
    .where( "page", "someUrl" )
    .update( {
        "count" = query.raw( "count + 1" )
    } );
MySQL
UPDATE `hits`
SET `count` = count + 1
WHERE `page` = ?
Updating Null values
Null values can be inserted by using queryparam syntax:
query.from("user")
		.whereId( 10 )
		.update( {
			manager_FK = { value = "", null=true },
		} )
if you are using full null support the following (easier) syntax is also allowed:
query.from("user")
		.whereId( 10 )
		.update( {
			manager_FK = { value = null },
		} )
Updating with Subselects
Subselects can be used to update values by passing a closure as the value
qb.table( "employees" )
    .update( {
		    "departmentName" = function( q ) {
		        q.from( "departments" )
		            .select( "name" )
		            .whereColumn( "employees.departmentId", "departments.id" );
		    } )
		} );
MySQL
UPDATE `employees`
SET `departmentName` = (
    SELECT `name`
    FROM `departments`
    WHERE `employees`.`departmentId` = `departments`.`id`
)
You can also pass a builder instance in place of the closure.
qb.table( "employees" )
    .update( {
		    "departmentName" = qb.newQuery()
		        .from( "departments" )
		        .select( "name" )
		        .whereColumn( "employees.departmentId", "departments.id" )
		    } )
		} );
Updating with Joins
qb will correctly format JOIN clauses in your UPDATE statements for your database grammar.
OracleGrammar does not support JOIN clauses inUPDATE statements.  Consider using subselects in your UPDATE statement instead.
qb.table( "employees" )
    .join( "departments", "departments.id", "employees.departmentId" )
    .update( {
        "employees.departmentName": qb.raw( "departments.name" )
    } );
MySQL
SQL Server
Postgres
UPDATE `employees`
INNER JOIN `departments`
    ON `departments`.`id` = `employees`.`departmentId`
SET `employees`.`departmentName` = departments.name
UPDATE [employees]
SET [employees].[departmentName] = departments.name
FROM [employees]
INNER JOIN [departments]
    ON [departments].[id] = [employees].[departmentId]
UPDATE "employees"
SET "employees"."departmentName" = departments.name
FROM "departments"
WHERE "departments"."id" = "employees"."departmentId"
addUpdate
Name
Type
Required
Default
Description
values
struct
true
​
A struct of column and value pairs to add to the update clause.
Adds values to a later update, similar to addSelect.
QueryBuilder
query.from( "users" )
    .whereId( 1 )
    .addUpdate( {
        "email" = "foo",
        "name" = "bar"
    } )
    .when( true, function( q ) {
        q.addUpdate( {
            "foo": "yes"
        } );
    } )
    .when( false, function( q ) {
        q.addUpdate( {
            "bar": "no"
        } );
    } )
    .update();
MySQL
UPDATE `users`
SET `email` = ?,
    `foo` = ?,
    `name` = ?
WHERE `Id` = ?
updateOrInsert
Name
Type
Required
Default
Description
values
struct
true
​
A struct of column and value pairs to either update or insert.
options
boolean
false
{}
Any additional queryExecute options.
toSql
boolean
false
false
If true, returns the raw SQL string instead of running the query. Useful for debugging.
Performs an update statement if the configured query returns true for exists.  Otherwise, performs an insert statement.
If an update statement is performed qb applies a limit( 1 ) to the update statement.
QueryBuilder
query.from( "users" )
    .where( "email", "foo" )
    .updateOrInsert( {
        "email" = "foo",
        "name" = "baz"
    } );
MySQL
UPDATE `users`
SET `email` = ?,
    `name` = ?
WHERE `email` = ?
LIMIT 1
If the configured query returns 0 records, then an insert statement is performed.
QueryBuilder
query.from( "users" )
    .where( "email", "foo" )
    .updateOrInsert( {
        "email" = "foo",
        "name" = "baz"
    } );
MySQL
INSERT INTO `users` (`email`, `name`)
VALUES (?, ?)
upsert
Name
Type
Required
Default
Description
values
struct | array<struct> | array<string>
true
​
A struct or array of structs to insert into or update on the table. If a source is provided, this should be an array of column names to update instead.
target
string | array<string>
true
​
A column name or array of column names to match the values to the table. If a match is found, the record will be updated. Otherwise, a new record will be inserted.  Most database grammars required these columns to have either a primary key or a unique index.
update
array | struct
false
null
Either an array of columns to update using the current value matched or a struct containing the column names as keys and the corresponding to update.  If blank, it will update all the columns in the passed in value.
source
function | QueryBuilder
false
null
A callback function or QueryBuilder object to use as the source for the upsert. When using this parameter, values must be an array of column names to update.
deleteUmatched
boolean
false
false
Boolean flag to delete any unmatched source records as part the upsert. (SQL Server only.)
options
boolean
false
{}
Any additional queryExecute options.
toSql
boolean
false
false
If true, returns the raw SQL string instead of running the query. Useful for debugging.
An upsert is a batch operation that either inserts or updates a row depending on if a target match is found.  If a row is matched with the target column(s), then the matched row is updated.  Otherwise a new row is inserted. 
In most database grammars, the target columns are required to be primary key or unique indexes.
qb.table( "users" )
    .upsert(
        values = [
            {
                "username": "johndoe",
                "active": 1,
                "createdDate": "2021-09-08 12:00:00",
                "modifiedDate": "2021-09-08 12:00:00"
            },
            {
                "username": "janedoe",
                "active": 1,
                "createdDate": "2021-09-10 10:42:13",
                "modifiedDate": "2021-09-10 10:42:13"
            },
        ],
        target = [ "username" ],
        update = [ "active", "modifiedDate" ],
    );
MySQL
SQL Server
Postgres
Oracle
INSERT INTO `users`
    (`active`, `createdDate`, `modifiedDate`, `username`)
VALUES
    (?, ?, ?, ?),
    (?, ?, ?, ?)
ON DUPLICATE KEY UPDATE
    `active` = VALUES(`active`),
    `modifiedDate` = VALUES(`modifiedDate`)
MERGE [users] AS [qb_target]
USING (VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?), (?, ?, ?, ?)) AS [qb_src]
    ([active], [createdDate], [modifiedDate], [username])
ON [qb_target].[username] = [qb_src].[username]
WHEN MATCHED THEN UPDATE
    SET [active] = [qb_src].[active],
        [modifiedDate] = [qb_src].[modifiedDate]
WHEN NOT MATCHED BY TARGET THEN INSERT
    ([active], [createdDate], [modifiedDate], [username])
    VALUES
    ([active], [createdDate], [modifiedDate], [username])
INSERT INTO "users"
    ("active", "createdDate", "modifiedDate", "username")
VALUES
    (?, ?, ?, ?),
    (? ,? ,? ,?)
ON CONFLICT ("username") DO UPDATE
    "active" = EXCLUDED."active",
    "modifiedDate" = EXCLUDED."modifiedDate"
MERGE INTO "USERS" "QB_TARGET"
USING (
    SELECT ?, ?, ?, ? FROM dual
    UNION ALL
    SELECT ?, ?, ?, ? FROM dual
) "QB_SRC"
ON "QB_TARGET"."USERNAME" = "QB_SRC"."USERNAME"
WHEN MATCHED THEN UPDATE
    SET "ACTIVE" = "QB_SRC"."ACTIVE",
        "MODIFIEDDATE" = "QB_SRC"."MODIFIEDDATE"
WHEN NOT MATCHED THEN INSERT
    ("ACTIVE", "CREATEDDATE", "MODIFIEDDATE", "USERNAME")
    VALUES
    ("QB_SRC"."ACTIVE", "QB_SRC"."CREATEDDATE", "QB_SRC"."MODIFIEDDATE", "QB_SRC"."USERNAME")
The update clause in a upsert can also accept raw values, making it very useful for tracking data like statistics.
qb.table( "stats" )
    .upsert(
        values = [
            { "postId": 1, "viewedDate": "2021-09-08", "views": 1 },
            { "postId": 2, "viewedDate": "2021-09-08", 
Name	Type	Required	Default	Description
values	struct \| array<struct>	`true`		A struct or array of structs to insert in to the table.
options	struct	`false`	`{}`	Any additional `queryExecute` options.
toSQL	boolean	`false`	`false`	If `true`, returns the raw SQL string instead of running the query. Useful for debugging.
Name	Type	Required	Default	Description
values	struct \| array<struct>	true		A struct or array of structs to insert in to the table.
target	array<string>	false	`[]`	An array of key column names to match on. (SQL Server and Oracle grammars only.)
options	struct	false	`{}`	Any additional `queryExecute` options.
toSQL	boolean	false	`false`	If `true`, returns the raw SQL string instead of running the query. Useful for debugging.
Name	Type	Required	Default	Description
source	function \| QueryBuilder	true		A callback or builder instance to serve as the source of the insert.
columns	array<string>	false		An array of column names that will be inserted. If no columns are passed, the columns will be derived from the source columns and aliases.
options	struct	false	`{}`	Any additional `queryExecute` options.
toSQL	boolean	false	`false`	If `true`, returns the raw SQL string instead of running the query. Useful for debugging.
Name	Type	Required	Default	Description
columns	string \| array	`true`		A single column, a list or columns, or an array of columns to return from the inserted query.