How to do raw SQL queries

Rust does not have a built-in "raw SQL" feature; you must use a database crate like Diesel to execute SQL strings directly. Use the sql_query function to run arbitrary SQL with parameters, then map the results to a struct or tuple.

use diesel::prelude::*;
use diesel::sql_query;

let results = sql_query("SELECT * FROM users WHERE id = ?")
    .bind::<diesel::sql_types::Integer, _>(user_id)
    .load::<(i32, String)>(connection)?;

The sql_query function takes a raw SQL string, bind adds parameters safely, and load retrieves the data into a Rust type.

Raw SQL in Rust means writing standard database queries directly inside your code instead of using a high-level tool. You use this when you need complex database features that the standard tools don't support. Think of it as speaking the database's native language directly rather than using a translator.