> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.prestashop-project.org/1-6-documentation/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.prestashop-project.org/1-6-documentation/english-documentation/developer-guide/coding-standards/sql-guidelines.md).

# SQL Guidelines

## Table names <a href="#sqlguidelines-tablenames" id="sqlguidelines-tablenames"></a>

1. Table names must begin with the PrestaShop "`_DB_PREFIX_`" prefix.

   ```
   ... FROM `'. _DB_PREFIX_.'customer` ...
   ```
2. Table names must have the same name as the object they reflect: "`ps_cart`".
3. Table names have to stay singular: "`ps_order`".
4. Language data have to be stored in a table named exactly like the object's table, and with the "`_lang`" suffix: "`ps_product_lang`".

## SQL query <a href="#sqlguidelines-sqlquery" id="sqlguidelines-sqlquery"></a>

1. Keywords must be written in uppercase.

   ```
   SELECT `firstname`
   FROM `'._DB_PREFIX_.'customer`
   ```
2. Back quotes ("`` ` ``") must be used around SQL field names and table names.

   ```
   SELECT p.`foo`, c.`bar`
   FROM `'._DB_PREFIX_.'product` p, `'._DB_PREFIX_.'customer` c
   ```
3. Table aliases have to be named by taking the first letter of each word, and must be lowercase.

   ```
   SELECT p.`id_product`, pl.`name`
   FROM `'._DB_PREFIX_.'product` p
   NATURAL JOIN `'._DB_PREFIX_.'product_lang` pl
   ```
4. When conflicts between table aliases occur, the second character has to be also used in the name.

   ```
   SELECT ca.`id_product`, cu.`firstname`
   FROM `'._DB_PREFIX_.'cart` ca, `'._DB_PREFIX_.'customer` cu
   ```
5. A new line has to be created for each clause.

   ```
   $query = 'SELECT pl.`name`
   FROM `'._DB_PREFIX_.'product_lang` pl
   WHERE pl.`id_product` = 17';
   ```
6. It is forbidden to make a `JOIN` in a `WHERE` clause.