Coding⏱️ 2 min read📅 2026-06-03

How to Fix: Update multiple columns in SQL

Update multiple columns in SQL with a single statement using the SET operator.

Quick Answer: Use the SET operator to update multiple columns at once, e.g. UPDATE table SET (a, b, c) = (SELECT a, b, c FROM table2 WHERE id = table1.id)

Update multiple columns in SQL can be a tedious task, especially when dealing with large tables. In this article, we will explore some common causes of this issue and provide solutions to make it easier.

⚠️ Common Causes

  • Using a single UPDATE statement with multiple columns can lead to errors and slow performance.

✅ Best Solutions to Fix It

Method 1: Using a Table Valued Function (TVF)

  1. Step 1: Create a TVF that takes the column names as input and returns a table with the updated values.

Method 2: Using Dynamic SQL

  1. Step 1: Use a dynamic SQL statement to create an UPDATE command with the column names as variables.

🎯 Final Words

By using one of these methods, you can easily update multiple columns in SQL without having to write out each column individually.

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