Replace a String in a SQL Server Table

In SQL Server, you can replace a string in a table using the `REPLACE` function. This is useful when you need to update a column with a new value, replacing an existing string.

Syntax

The basic syntax for replacing a string is:

UPDATE table_name SET column_name = REPLACE(column_name, 'old_string', 'new_string');

Where:

  • `table_name` is the name of the table that contains the column you want to update.
  • `column_name` is the name of the column that contains the string you want to replace.
  • `old_string` is the string you want to replace.
  • `new_string` is the new string you want to replace it with.

Example

Let's say we want to replace all occurrences of 'USA' with 'United States' in the `Country` column of the `Customers` table:

UPDATE Customers SET Country = REPLACE(Country, 'USA', 'United States');

After executing this command, all rows in the `Customers` table where the `Country` column contains 'USA' will be updated to 'United States'.

Example with Multiple Replacements

You can also replace multiple strings in a single update statement using the `REPLACE` function multiple times:

UPDATE Customers SET Country = REPLACE(REPLACE(Country, 'USA', 'United States'), 'UK', 'United Kingdom');

This will replace both 'USA' with 'United States' and 'UK' with 'United Kingdom' in the `Country` column.

Important Notes

Before updating a column with a replacement string, make sure to:

  • Take a backup of the database to ensure data safety.
  • Test the replacement string in a select statement to ensure it produces the desired results.
  • Update any references to the old string in your applications or scripts.