Creating a SQLite Database

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 3 views

SQLite Database Access and CRUD Operations: A Minimal Viable Product (MVP)

As a developer, working with databases is an essential part of building robust and scalable applications. SQLite is a popular choice for local storage due to its lightweight and self-contained nature. In this article, we will explore how to access and perform CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) operations on a SQLite database using Python. We will also discuss the use of Object-Relational Mappers (ORMs) and provide a minimal viable product (MVP) implementation.

What is SQLite?

SQLite is a self-contained, file-based database that stores data in a single file. It is a popular choice for local storage due to its ease of use, flexibility, and reliability. SQLite supports a wide range of data types, including integers, strings, dates, and more. It also provides a robust SQL engine that allows for complex queries and transactions.

Why Use SQLite?

There are several reasons why SQLite is a popular choice for local storage:

Lightweight: SQLite is a self-contained database that requires minimal resources to run.
Easy to use: SQLite has a simple and intuitive API that makes it easy to work with.
Flexible: SQLite supports a wide range of data types and allows for complex queries and transactions.
Reliable: SQLite is a robust and reliable database that provides a high level of data integrity.

Accessing SQLite Database

To access a SQLite database, you will need to use a Python library that provides a interface to the database. There are several libraries available, including:

sqlite3: This is the built-in Python library for SQLite. It provides a simple and intuitive API for working with SQLite databases.
pysqlite3: This is a third-party library that provides a more comprehensive interface to SQLite databases.

For this example, we will use the sqlite3 library.

Creating a SQLite Database

To create a SQLite database, you will need to use the sqlite3 library. Here is an example of how to create a new database:

import sqlite3

# Create a new database
conn = sqlite3.connect('example.db')
cursor = conn.cursor()

# Create a new table
cursor.execute('''
    CREATE TABLE users (
        id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY,
        name TEXT NOT NULL,
        email TEXT NOT NULL
    )
''')

# Commit the changes
conn.commit()

# Close the connection
conn.close()

Reading Data from SQLite Database

To read data from a SQLite database, you will need to use the sqlite3 library. Here is an example of how to read data from a table:

import sqlite3

# Connect to the database
conn = sqlite3.connect('example.db')
cursor = conn.cursor()

# Select all rows from the users table
cursor.execute('SELECT * FROM users')

# Fetch all rows
rows = cursor.fetchall()

# Print the rows
for row in rows:
    print(row)

# Close the connection
conn.close()

Writing Data to SQLite Database

To write data to a SQLite database, you will need to use the sqlite3 library. Here is an example of how to insert a new row into a table:

import sqlite3

# Connect to the database
conn = sqlite3.connect('example.db')
cursor = conn.cursor()

# Insert a new row into the users table
cursor.execute('''
    INSERT INTO users (name, email)
    VALUES ('John Doe', 'john.doe@example.com')
''')

# Commit the changes
conn.commit()

# Close the connection
conn.close()

Updating Data in SQLite Database

To update data in a SQLite database, you will need to use the sqlite3 library. Here is an example of how to update a row in a table:

import sqlite3

# Connect to the database
conn = sqlite3.connect('example.db')
cursor = conn.cursor()

# Update a row in the users table
cursor.execute('''
    UPDATE users
    SET name = 'Jane Doe'
    WHERE id = 1
''')

# Commit the changes
conn.commit()

# Close the connection
conn.close()

Deleting Data from SQLite Database

To delete data from a SQLite database, you will need to use the sqlite3 library. Here is an example of how to delete a row from a table:

import sqlite3

# Connect to the database
conn = sqlite3.connect('example.db')
cursor = conn.cursor()

# Delete a row from the users table
cursor.execute('''
    DELETE FROM users
    WHERE id = 1
''')

# Commit the changes
conn.commit()

# Close the connection
conn.close()

Using Object-Relational Mappers (ORMs)

Object-Relational Mappers (ORMs) are a type of library that provides a high-level interface to databases. They allow you to work with databases using objects, rather than writing raw SQL queries. There are several ORMs available for Python, including:

SQLAlchemy: This is a popular ORM that provides a comprehensive interface to databases.
Django ORM: This is an ORM that is part of the Django web framework.

For this example, we will use the SQLAlchemy library.

Creating a Model with SQLAlchemy

To create a model with SQLAlchemy, you will need to define a class that inherits from Base. Here is an example of how to create a model:

from sqlalchemy import Column, Integer, String
from sqlalchemy.ext.declarative import declarative_base

Base = declarative_base()

class User(Base):
    __tablename__ = 'users'

    id = Column(Integer, primary_key=True)
    name = Column(String)
    email = Column(String)

Using the Model with SQLAlchemy

To use the model with SQLAlchemy, you will need to create a session and use it to interact with the database. Here is an example of how to use the model:

from sqlalchemy import create_engine
from sqlalchemy.orm import sessionmaker

engine = create_engine('sqlite:///example.db')
Session = sessionmaker(bind=engine)

session = Session()

# Create a new user
user = User(name='John Doe', email='john.doe@example.com')
session.add(user)
session.commit()

# Read all users
users = session.query(User).all()
for user in users:
    print(user.name, user.email)

# Update a user
user = session.query(User).filter_by(id=1).first()
user.name = 'Jane Doe'
session.commit()

# Delete a user
user = session.query(User).filter_by(id=1).first()
session.delete(user)
session.commit()

In this article, we have explored how to access and perform CRUD operations on a SQLite database using Python. We have also discussed the use of Object-Relational Mappers (ORMs) and provided a minimal viable product (MVP) implementation using the SQLAlchemy library. By following the examples in this article, you should be able to create a SQLite database and perform CRUD operations using Python.
SQLite Database Access and CRUD Operations: A Q&A Article

In our previous article, we explored how to access and perform CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) operations on a SQLite database using Python. We also discussed the use of Object-Relational Mappers (ORMs) and provided a minimal viable product (MVP) implementation using the SQLAlchemy library. In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about SQLite database access and CRUD operations.

Q: What is SQLite?

A: SQLite is a self-contained, file-based database that stores data in a single file. It is a popular choice for local storage due to its ease of use, flexibility, and reliability.

Q: Why use SQLite?

A: There are several reasons why SQLite is a popular choice for local storage:

Lightweight: SQLite is a self-contained database that requires minimal resources to run.
Easy to use: SQLite has a simple and intuitive API that makes it easy to work with.
Flexible: SQLite supports a wide range of data types and allows for complex queries and transactions.
Reliable: SQLite is a robust and reliable database that provides a high level of data integrity.

Q: How do I create a SQLite database?

A: To create a SQLite database, you will need to use the sqlite3 library. Here is an example of how to create a new database:

import sqlite3

# Create a new database
conn = sqlite3.connect('example.db')
cursor = conn.cursor()

# Create a new table
cursor.execute('''
    CREATE TABLE users (
        id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY,
        name TEXT NOT NULL,
        email TEXT NOT NULL
    )
''')

# Commit the changes
conn.commit()

# Close the connection
conn.close()

Q: How do I read data from a SQLite database?

A: To read data from a SQLite database, you will need to use the sqlite3 library. Here is an example of how to read data from a table:

import sqlite3

# Connect to the database
conn = sqlite3.connect('example.db')
cursor = conn.cursor()

# Select all rows from the users table
cursor.execute('SELECT * FROM users')

# Fetch all rows
rows = cursor.fetchall()

# Print the rows
for row in rows:
    print(row)

# Close the connection
conn.close()

Q: How do I write data to a SQLite database?

A: To write data to a SQLite database, you will need to use the sqlite3 library. Here is an example of how to insert a new row into a table:

import sqlite3

# Connect to the database
conn = sqlite3.connect('example.db')
cursor = conn.cursor()

# Insert a new row into the users table
cursor.execute('''
    INSERT INTO users (name, email)
    VALUES ('John Doe', 'john.doe@example.com')
''')

# Commit the changes
conn.commit()

# Close the connection
conn.close()

Q: How do I update data in a SQLite database?

A: To update data in a SQLite database, you will need to use the sqlite3 library. Here is an example of how to update a row in a table:

import sqlite3

# Connect to the database
conn = sqlite3.connect('example.db')
cursor = conn.cursor()

# Update a row in the users table
cursor.execute('''
    UPDATE users
    SET name = 'Jane Doe'
    WHERE id = 1
''')

# Commit the changes
conn.commit()

# Close the connection
conn.close()

Q: How do I delete data from a SQLite database?

A: To delete data from a SQLite database, you will need to use the sqlite3 library. Here is an example of how to delete a row from a table:

import sqlite3

# Connect to the database
conn = sqlite3.connect('example.db')
cursor = conn.cursor()

# Delete a row from the users table
cursor.execute('''
    DELETE FROM users
    WHERE id = 1
''')

# Commit the changes
conn.commit()

# Close the connection
conn.close()

Q: What is an Object-Relational Mapper (ORM)?

A: An Object-Relational Mapper (ORM) is a type of library that provides a high-level interface to databases. They allow you to work with databases using objects, rather than writing raw SQL queries.

Q: What is SQLAlchemy?

A: SQLAlchemy is a popular ORM that provides a comprehensive interface to databases. It allows you to work with databases using objects, rather than writing raw SQL queries.

Q: How do I use SQLAlchemy?

A: To use SQLAlchemy, you will need to create a model that inherits from Base. Here is an example of how to create a model:

from sqlalchemy import Column, Integer, String
from sqlalchemy.ext.declarative import declarative_base

Base = declarative_base()

class User(Base):
    __tablename__ = 'users'

    id = Column(Integer, primary_key=True)
    name = Column(String)
    email = Column(String)

Q: How do I use the model with SQLAlchemy?

A: To use the model with SQLAlchemy, you will need to create a session and use it to interact with the database. Here is an example of how to use the model:

from sqlalchemy import create_engine
from sqlalchemy.orm import sessionmaker

engine = create_engine('sqlite:///example.db')
Session = sessionmaker(bind=engine)

session = Session()

# Create a new user
user = User(name='John Doe', email='john.doe@example.com')
session.add(user)
session.commit()

# Read all users
users = session.query(User).all()
for user in users:
    print(user.name, user.email)

# Update a user
user = session.query(User).filter_by(id=1).first()
user.name = 'Jane Doe'
session.commit()

# Delete a user
user = session.query(User).filter_by(id=1).first()
session.delete(user)
session.commit()

In this article, we have answered some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about SQLite database access and CRUD operations. We have also discussed the use of Object-Relational Mappers (ORMs) and provided a minimal viable product (MVP) implementation using the SQLAlchemy library. By following the examples in this article, you should be able to create a SQLite database and perform CRUD operations using Python.