What do the ‘INSERT’, ‘UPDATE’, and ‘DROP’ queries do?

This question helps interviewers assess your technical knowledge and familiarity with SQL, a vital skill for many data-driven roles. Understanding the functions of 'INSERT', 'UPDATE', and 'DROP' queries reveals your capability to manage database records effectively. Interviewers are watching for clarity in your understanding of data manipulation and whether you know how to use these commands appropriately without causing data loss or integrity issues.

You can structure your answer by first defining each query and then providing a brief example for each. For instance, you might say, 'The 'INSERT' query is used to add new records into a database table. For example, 'INSERT INTO users (name, age) VALUES ('John', 30)' adds a new user. The 'UPDATE' query modifies existing records, like 'UPDATE users SET age = 31 WHERE name = 'John' to change John's age. Lastly, the 'DROP' query is used to remove an entire table or specific entries, such as 'DROP TABLE users' which deletes the table entirely, including all its data.'