# SQL row exchange

SQL expressions, sql_values data and sql_insert output serve different purposes. Choose according to whether the source should be executed as SQL or decoded as row literals.

## Literal input

Use INSERT VALUES for ordinary SQL expressions and literals. Use INSERT FORMAT sql_values when the source contains comma-separated literal rows.

The sql_values codec does not evaluate arbitrary expressions. It decodes the supported literal representations and validates them against the destination schema.

## Executable output

`sql_insert` writes INSERT statements for a chosen table and is output-only. Run the resulting text as SQL when importing it; it is not an input codec.

```sql
SELECT 1 AS id, 'Ada' AS name
SETTINGS sql_insert_table = 'people'
FORMAT sql_insert;
```

```text
INSERT INTO people (`id`, `name`) VALUES (1, 'Ada');
```

The setting applies to this statement only. The target table must exist with a compatible schema when the generated SQL is later executed.

See [sql_values](https://coordinatordb.com/docs/reference/formats/sql-values), [sql_insert](https://coordinatordb.com/docs/reference/formats/sql-insert) and [`INSERT INTO`](https://coordinatordb.com/docs/reference/statements/insert-into).