The CREATE ROLE statement is used in SQL to create a new database role. A role is essentially a collection of privileges that can be assigned to users or other roles, allowing for easier management of permissions.
Here’s the general syntax for creating a role:
CREATE ROLE role_name;
Example
CREATE ROLE data_analyst;
In this example, a role named data_analyst is created.
Role with Login Capability
If you want to create a role that also has login capabilities (in databases like SQL Server), you might use:
CREATE ROLE role_name WITH LOGIN;
Granting Permissions to the Role
After creating the role, you can grant it specific permissions using the GRANT command. For example:
GRANT SELECT, INSERT ON table_name TO data_analyst;
Adding Users to the Role
To assign users (or other roles) to this role, the ALTER ROLE statement can be used:
ALTER ROLE data_analyst ADD MEMBER username;
Example Complete Workflow
Here is a complete example, illustrating creating a role, granting permissions, and adding a user to the role:
-- Step 1: Create the role
CREATE ROLE data_analyst;
-- Step 2: Grant SELECT and INSERT permissions on a specific table
GRANT SELECT, INSERT ON employees TO data_analyst;
-- Step 3: Add a user to this role
ALTER ROLE data_analyst ADD MEMBER john_doe;
Notes
- Role management commands may vary slightly based on the specific SQL database system (e.g., PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server, etc.).
- Always check the documentation for the specific SQL dialect you are using to ensure proper syntax and capabilities.
- Depending on the database, roles might inherit permissions from other roles, so role hierarchies can often be established.