Why I can create table columns named "key" and "value", but I can't use them later?

Question

Tip of the day: Use backticks, like a boss! Even in your handwriting!

Update: If you take the above advice, you don't need to read the following anymore! Seriously!

Question: I'm a little bit annoyed by this. I can create a table containing columns which are named key and value, but when I want to work with these columns I will see a very nice syntax error explaining that these are reserved keywords for MySQL.

My question is: does anybody know why it is like this? Why I'm not receiving the syntax error in the first place? Is it backed by any reason?

Answer 1

Only KEY is a reserved keyword :D.

• MySQL Reserved Keywords List

just wrap the column name KEY with backtick so you can use it, eg

SELECT `key`
FROM   tableName

or supply the table with alias,

SELECT a.key
FROM   tableName a