// return a set of rows. each row is an associative array of column names and values.
// an empty array is returned if the query returned no results
$posts = Yii::$app->db->createCommand('SELECT * FROM post')
            ->queryAll();

// return a single row (the first row)
// false is returned if the query has no result
$post = Yii::$app->db->createCommand('SELECT * FROM post WHERE id=1')
           ->queryOne();

// return a single column (the first column)
// an empty array is returned if the query returned no results
$titles = Yii::$app->db->createCommand('SELECT title FROM post')
             ->queryColumn();

// return a scalar value
// false is returned if the query has no result
$count = Yii::$app->db->createCommand('SELECT COUNT(*) FROM post')
             ->queryScalar();

Yii::$app->db->createCommand('UPDATE post SET status=1 WHERE id=1')
   ->execute();

// UPDATE (table name, column values, condition)
Yii::$app->db->createCommand()->update('user', ['status' => 1], 'age > 30')->execute();