What is the difference between SELECT and SELECT INTO statements in DB2?

What is the difference between SELECT and SELECT INTO statements in DB2?

In DB2, the SELECT statement is used to fetch data from a database table and display it. It is commonly used to retrieve specific columns or rows from a table based on certain conditions or criteria specified in the query.

On the other hand, the SELECT INTO statement in DB2 is used to place the result of a SELECT query into a new or existing table. It is typically used to create a new table and populate it with the result set retrieved from the SELECT statement.

It is important to note that the SELECT INTO statement in DB2 requires the target table to be pre-defined with the appropriate columns and data types that match the result set of the SELECT query. Additionally, the SELECT INTO statement will automatically create a new table if it does not already exist or overwrite the existing table if it does.

Overall, the main difference between the SELECT and SELECT INTO statements in DB2 is that the SELECT statement is used for fetching data from a table for display purposes, while the SELECT INTO statement is used to create a new table and populate it with the result set of a SELECT query.