SQL WHERE: Difference between revisions

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=<span id='CASE'></span>SQL Conditional Logic=
=<span id='CASE'></span>SQL Conditional Logic=
 
{{Internal|SQL_Conditional_Logic#Overview|SQL Conditional Logic}}
SQL conditional logic is the ability of SQL statements to take one of several paths during execution, depending on the value of an expression. The SQL has syntax that provides IF/ELSE conditional logic, except that it does not use the <code>IF</code> keyword but <code>CASE</code>. These expressions can be used in the <code>SELECT ... WHERE</code> clause, but also with conditional <code>SELECT</code>, <code>[[SQL_INSERT#Conditional_INSERT|INSERT]]</code>, <code>[[SQL_UPDATE#Conditional_UPDATE|UPDATE]]</code> and <code>[[SQL_DELETE#Conditional_DELETE|DELETE]]</code>.
 
All major databases have built-in function that mimic IF/ELSE statements. However, the <code>CASE</code> expressions should be preferred instead, because <code>CASE</code> is part of the SQL92 standard and thus available on all standard-compliant servers. <code>CASE</code> has been built into the grammar of the <code>SELECT</code>, <code>[[SQL_INSERT#Conditional_INSERT|INSERT]]</code>, <code>[[SQL_UPDATE#Conditional_UPDATE|UPDATE]]</code> and <code>[[SQL_DELETE#Conditional_DELETE|DELETE]]</code> statements, and in the <code>WHERE</code> clause.
 
There are two different types of <code>CASE</code> syntax: [[#Searched_CASE_Expressions|searched CASE expressions]] and [[#Simple_CASE_Expressions|simple CASE expressions]].
 
==Searched <tt>CASE</tt> Expressions==
<syntaxhighlight lang=sql>
CASE
    WHEN <conditional_expression_1> THEN <expression_1>
    WHEN <conditional_expression_2> THEN <expression_2>
    ...
    [ELSE <default_expression>]
END
</syntaxhighlight>
 
When the <CODE>CASE</CODE> expression is evaluated, the <code>WHEN</code> conditional expressions are evaluated in order from top to bottom. As soon as one of the conditional expressions is evaluated to TRUE, the corresponding expression is evaluated and returned. If none of the <code>WHEN</code> conditional expressions evaluate to true, then expression introduced by <code>ELSE</code> is evaluated and returned. If the <code>CASE</code> does not have an <code>ELSE</code>, <font color=darkkhaki>then <code>NULL</code> is returned</font>.
 
All returned expressions (<code><expression_1></code>, <code><expression_2></code>, ... <code><default_expression></code>) must evaluate to the same type.
 
<code><expression_1></code>, <code><expression_2></code>, ... <code><default_expression></code> can all be [[SQL_SELECT#Subqueries_(Querying_a_Derived_Table)|subqueries]].
 
This is an example of using <code>CASE</code> in <code>SELECT</code>:
<syntaxhighlight lang=sql>
SELECT name,
  CASE
    WHEN active = 1 THEN 'ACTIVE'
    ELSE 'INACTIVE'
  END activity_level
FROM person
</syntaxhighlight>
 
This is an example of using <code>CASE</code> in <code>SELECT ... WHERE</code>:
<syntaxhighlight lang=sql>
SELECT name FROM person
  WHERE
    CASE
      WHEN active IS NULL THEN FALSE
      ELSE active = 1
  END;
</syntaxhighlight>
 
<code>CASE</code> can also be used in:
* [[SQL_INSERT#Conditional_INSERT|Conditional INSERT]]
* [[SQL_UPDATE#Conditional_UPDATE|Conditional UPDATE]]
* [[SQL_DELETE#Conditional_DELETE|Conditional DELETE]]
 
==Simple <tt>CASE</tt> Expressions==
 
<syntaxhighlight lang=sql>
CASE <expression>
    WHEN <result_1> THEN <expression_1>
    WHEN <result_2> THEN <expression_2>
    ...
    [ELSE <default_expression>]
END
</syntaxhighlight>
The <code><expression></code> is evaluated and the result compared from top to bottom with <code>result_1</code>, <code>result_2</code>, etc. Upon the first match, the corresponding expression is evaluated and returned. If there is no match, the <code><default_expression></code> is evaluated and returned. <font color=darkkhaki>If there is  <code>ELSE</code>, <code>NULL</code> is returned.</font>
 
A simple IF/ELSE:
 
<syntaxhighlight lang=sql>
CASE <expression_that_evaluates_to_true_or_false> WHEN TRUE THEN <if_expression>
ELSE <else_expression>
END
</syntaxhighlight>
 
Usage example:
<syntaxhighlight lang=sql>
CASE array_length(person.skills, 1) > 0 WHEN TRUE THEN ('skill_we_search_for' = ANY(person.skills))
ELSE 'key_we_search_for' = ANY(general.skills)
END
</syntaxhighlight>
 
==Preventing Divisions by zero with <tt>CASE</tt>==
 
==Handing <tt>NULL</tt> with <tt>CASE</tt>==

Latest revision as of 21:06, 30 May 2024

Internal

TODO

TO PROCESS: https://learning.oreilly.com/library/view/learning-sql-3rd/9781492057604/ch04.html

Overview

The WHERE clause is the mechanism for filtering out unwanted data from the result set. The WHERE clause can be used with SELECT, UPDATE and DELETE, but not with INSERT. The WHERE clause may contain an arbitrary number of filter conditions separated by AND, OR and NOT operators. The filter conditions may be optionally grouped together with parentheses.

[...] WHERE <filter_condition> AND|OR <filter_condition> ...

SELECT * FROM person WHERE person.name = 'Alice' AND (person.eye_color = 'blue' OR person.eye_color = 'black');

Using Parentheses

If the WHERE clause includes three or more conditions combined with AND, OR or NOT, you should use parentheses to make your intent clear.

TO PROCESS: https://learning.oreilly.com/library/view/learning-sql-3rd/9781492057604/ch04.html#:-:text=Using%20Parentheses

Filter Conditions

A condition is made up of one or more expressions, combined with one or more operators. An expression can be any of the following:

  • A number
  • A column in a table or a view
  • A string literal
  • A built-in function such as CONCAT()
  • A subquery
  • A list of expressions such as ('A', 'B', 'C')

The operators used within conditions include:

  • Comparison operators: =, !=, <, >, <>, LIKE, IN, BETWEEN.
  • Arithmetic operators: +, -, /, *

Equality Conditions

TO PROCESS: https://learning.oreilly.com/library/view/learning-sql-3rd/9781492057604/ch04.html#:-:text=Equality%20Conditions

Inequality Conditions

TO PROCESS: https://learning.oreilly.com/library/view/learning-sql-3rd/9781492057604/ch04.html#:-:text=Inequality%20conditions,an%20inequality%20condition%3A

Existence Conditions

EXISTS

Range Conditions

TO PROCESS: https://learning.oreilly.com/library/view/learning-sql-3rd/9781492057604/ch04.html#:-:text=Range%20Conditions

The BETWEEN Operator

TO PROCESS: https://learning.oreilly.com/library/view/learning-sql-3rd/9781492057604/ch04.html#:-:text=The%20between%20operator

String Ranges

TO PROCESS: https://learning.oreilly.com/library/view/learning-sql-3rd/9781492057604/ch04.html#:-:text=String%20ranges

Membership Conditions

TO PROCESS: https://learning.oreilly.com/library/view/learning-sql-3rd/9781492057604/ch04.html#:-:text=Membership%20Conditions

Using Subqueries

TO PROCESS: https://learning.oreilly.com/library/view/learning-sql-3rd/9781492057604/ch04.html#:-:text=Using%20subqueries

Matching Conditions

TO PROCESS: https://learning.oreilly.com/library/view/learning-sql-3rd/9781492057604/ch04.html#:-:text=Matching%20Conditions

Using Regular Expressions

TO PROCESS: https://learning.oreilly.com/library/view/learning-sql-3rd/9781492057604/ch04.html#:-:text=Using%20regular%20expressions

NULL in Conditions

To test whether a value is NULL use the IS operator, not =:

SELECT * FROM person where name IS NULL;

The following syntax is incorrect, and while will not generate a syntax or runtime error, it will produce invalid results, it will return no rows:

SELECT * FROM person where name = NULL;

TO PROCESS: https://learning.oreilly.com/library/view/learning-sql-3rd/9781492057604/ch04.html#:-:text=Null%3A%20That%20Four-Letter%20Word

Also see:

NULL

SQL Conditional Logic

SQL Conditional Logic