MySQL Tutorial/Data Types/NULL

In MySQL, 0 or NULL means false and anything else means true.

The default truth value from a boolean operation is 1.

10. 18. NULL 10. 18. 1. <A href="/Tutorial/MySQL/0200__Data-Types/NULLmeansamissingunknownvalue.htm">NULL means "a missing unknown value"</a> 10. 18. 2. <A href="/Tutorial/MySQL/0200__Data-Types/UsetheISNULLandISNOTNULLoperatorsforNULLvalue.htm">Use the IS NULL and IS NOT NULL operators for NULL value</a> 10. 18. 3. In MySQL, 0 or NULL means false and anything else means true. 10. 18. 4. <A href="/Tutorial/MySQL/0200__Data-Types/TwoNULLvaluesareregardedasequalinaGROUPBY.htm">Two NULL values are regarded as equal in a GROUP BY</a> 10. 18. 5. <A href="/Tutorial/MySQL/0200__Data-Types/NULLvaluesarepresentedfirstifyoudoORDERBYASC.htm">NULL values are presented first if you do ORDER BY ... ASC</a> 10. 18. 6. <A href="/Tutorial/MySQL/0200__Data-Types/NULLvaluesarepresentedlastifyoudoORDERBYDESC.htm">NULL values are presented last if you do ORDER BY ... DESC</a> 10. 18. 7. <A href="/Tutorial/MySQL/0200__Data-Types/Use0andisnotNULL.htm">Use 0 and "" is not NULL</a>

NULL means "a missing unknown value"

The NULL value means "no data."

NULL can be written in any lettercase.

For operations performed with LOAD DATA INFILE or SELECT ... INTO OUTFILE, NULL is represented by the \N sequence.

To test for NULL, you cannot use the arithmetic comparison operators such as =, <, or <>.

   <source lang="sql">

mysql> mysql> SELECT 1 = NULL, 1 <> NULL, 1 < NULL, 1 > NULL; +----------+-----------+----------+----------+ | 1 = NULL | 1 <> NULL | 1 < NULL | 1 > NULL | +----------+-----------+----------+----------+ | NULL | NULL | NULL | NULL | +----------+-----------+----------+----------+ 1 row in set (0.00 sec) mysql></source>

NULL values are presented first if you do ORDER BY ... ASC

   <source lang="sql">

mysql> mysql> mysql> mysql> CREATE TABLE Employee(

   ->     id            int,
   ->     first_name    VARCHAR(15),
   ->     last_name     VARCHAR(15),
   ->     start_date    DATE,
   ->     end_date      DATE,
   ->     salary        FLOAT(8,2),
   ->     city          VARCHAR(10),
   ->     description   VARCHAR(15)
   -> );

Query OK, 0 rows affected (0.05 sec) mysql> mysql> mysql> insert into Employee(id,first_name, last_name, start_date, end_Date, salary, City, Description)

   ->              values (1,"Jason",    "Martin",  "19960725",  "20060725", 1234.56, "Toronto",  "Programmer");

Query OK, 1 row affected (0.00 sec) mysql> mysql> insert into Employee(id,first_name, last_name, start_date, end_Date, salary, City, Description)

   ->               values(2,"Alison",   "Mathews",  "19760321", "19860221", 6661.78, "Vancouver","Tester");

Query OK, 1 row affected (0.00 sec) mysql> mysql> insert into Employee(id,first_name, last_name, start_date, end_Date, salary, City, Description)

   ->               values(3,"James",    "Smith",    "19781212", "19900315", 6544.78, "Vancouver","Tester");

Query OK, 1 row affected (0.00 sec) mysql> mysql> insert into Employee(id,first_name, last_name, start_date, end_Date, salary, City, Description)

   ->               values(4,"Celia",    "Rice",     "19821024", "19990421", 2344.78, "Vancouver","Manager");

Query OK, 1 row affected (0.00 sec) mysql> mysql> insert into Employee(id,first_name, last_name, start_date, end_Date, salary, City, Description)

   ->               values(5,"Robert",   "Black",    "19840115", "19980808", 2334.78, "Vancouver","Tester");

Query OK, 1 row affected (0.00 sec) mysql> mysql> insert into Employee(id,first_name, last_name, start_date, end_Date, salary, City, Description)

   ->               values(6,"Linda",    "Green",    "19870730", "19960104", 4322.78,"New York",  "Tester");

Query OK, 1 row affected (0.02 sec) mysql> mysql> insert into Employee(id,first_name, last_name, start_date, end_Date, salary, City, Description)

   ->               values(7,"David",    "Larry",    "19901231", "19980212", 7897.78,"New York",  "Manager");

Query OK, 1 row affected (0.00 sec) mysql> mysql> insert into Employee(id,first_name, last_name, start_date, end_Date, salary, City, Description)

   ->               values(8,"James",    "Cat",     "19960917",  "20020415", 1232.78,"Vancouver", "Tester");

Query OK, 1 row affected (0.00 sec) mysql> mysql> select * from Employee; +------+------------+-----------+------------+------------+---------+-----------+-------------+ | id | first_name | last_name | start_date | end_date | salary | city | description | +------+------------+-----------+------------+------------+---------+-----------+-------------+ | 1 | Jason | Martin | 1996-07-25 | 2006-07-25 | 1234.56 | Toronto | Programmer | | 2 | Alison | Mathews | 1976-03-21 | 1986-02-21 | 6661.78 | Vancouver | Tester | | 3 | James | Smith | 1978-12-12 | 1990-03-15 | 6544.78 | Vancouver | Tester | | 4 | Celia | Rice | 1982-10-24 | 1999-04-21 | 2344.78 | Vancouver | Manager | | 5 | Robert | Black | 1984-01-15 | 1998-08-08 | 2334.78 | Vancouver | Tester | | 6 | Linda | Green | 1987-07-30 | 1996-01-04 | 4322.78 | New York | Tester | | 7 | David | Larry | 1990-12-31 | 1998-02-12 | 7897.78 | New York | Manager | | 8 | James | Cat | 1996-09-17 | 2002-04-15 | 1232.78 | Vancouver | Tester | +------+------------+-----------+------------+------------+---------+-----------+-------------+ 8 rows in set (0.00 sec) mysql> mysql> mysql> select first_name from employee order by first_name; +------------+ | first_name | +------------+ | Alison | | Celia | | David | | James | | James | | Jason | | Linda | | Robert | +------------+ 8 rows in set (0.02 sec) mysql> mysql> mysql> drop table Employee; Query OK, 0 rows affected (0.02 sec) mysql></source>

NULL values are presented last if you do ORDER BY ... DESC

   <source lang="sql">

mysql> mysql> mysql> CREATE TABLE Employee(

   ->     id            int,
   ->     first_name    VARCHAR(15),
   ->     last_name     VARCHAR(15),
   ->     start_date    DATE,
   ->     end_date      DATE,
   ->     salary        FLOAT(8,2),
   ->     city          VARCHAR(10),
   ->     description   VARCHAR(15)
   -> );

Query OK, 0 rows affected (0.03 sec) mysql> mysql> mysql> insert into Employee(id,first_name, last_name, start_date, end_Date, salary, City, Description)

   ->              values (1,"Jason",    "Martin",  "19960725",  "20060725", 1234.56, "Toronto",  "Programmer");

Query OK, 1 row affected (0.01 sec) mysql> mysql> insert into Employee(id,first_name, last_name, start_date, end_Date, salary, City, Description)

   ->               values(2,"Alison",   "Mathews",  "19760321", "19860221", 6661.78, "Vancouver","Tester");

Query OK, 1 row affected (0.00 sec) mysql> mysql> insert into Employee(id,first_name, last_name, start_date, end_Date, salary, City, Description)

   ->               values(3,"James",    "Smith",    "19781212", "19900315", 6544.78, "Vancouver","Tester");

Query OK, 1 row affected (0.00 sec) mysql> mysql> insert into Employee(id,first_name, last_name, start_date, end_Date, salary, City, Description)

   ->               values(4,"Celia",    "Rice",     "19821024", "19990421", 2344.78, "Vancouver","Manager");

Query OK, 1 row affected (0.00 sec) mysql> mysql> insert into Employee(id,first_name, last_name, start_date, end_Date, salary, City, Description)

   ->               values(5,"Robert",   "Black",    "19840115", "19980808", 2334.78, "Vancouver","Tester");

Query OK, 1 row affected (0.00 sec) mysql> mysql> insert into Employee(id,first_name, last_name, start_date, end_Date, salary, City, Description)

   ->               values(6,NULL,    "Green",    "19870730", "19960104", 4322.78,"New York",  "Tester");

Query OK, 1 row affected (0.00 sec) mysql> mysql> insert into Employee(id,first_name, last_name, start_date, end_Date, salary, City, Description)

   ->               values(7,NULL,    "Larry",    "19901231", "19980212", 7897.78,"New York",  "Manager");

Query OK, 1 row affected (0.00 sec) mysql> mysql> insert into Employee(id,first_name, last_name, start_date, end_Date, salary, City, Description)

   ->               values(8,NULL,    "Cat",     "19960917",  "20020415", 1232.78,"Vancouver", "Tester");

Query OK, 1 row affected (0.00 sec) mysql> mysql> select * from Employee; +------+------------+-----------+------------+------------+---------+-----------+-------------+ | id | first_name | last_name | start_date | end_date | salary | city | description | +------+------------+-----------+------------+------------+---------+-----------+-------------+ | 1 | Jason | Martin | 1996-07-25 | 2006-07-25 | 1234.56 | Toronto | Programmer | | 2 | Alison | Mathews | 1976-03-21 | 1986-02-21 | 6661.78 | Vancouver | Tester | | 3 | James | Smith | 1978-12-12 | 1990-03-15 | 6544.78 | Vancouver | Tester | | 4 | Celia | Rice | 1982-10-24 | 1999-04-21 | 2344.78 | Vancouver | Manager | | 5 | Robert | Black | 1984-01-15 | 1998-08-08 | 2334.78 | Vancouver | Tester | | 6 | NULL | Green | 1987-07-30 | 1996-01-04 | 4322.78 | New York | Tester | | 7 | NULL | Larry | 1990-12-31 | 1998-02-12 | 7897.78 | New York | Manager | | 8 | NULL | Cat | 1996-09-17 | 2002-04-15 | 1232.78 | Vancouver | Tester | +------+------------+-----------+------------+------------+---------+-----------+-------------+ 8 rows in set (0.00 sec) mysql> mysql> mysql> mysql> select first_name from employee order by first_name; +------------+ | first_name | +------------+ | NULL | | NULL | | NULL | | Alison | | Celia | | James | | Jason | | Robert | +------------+ 8 rows in set (0.00 sec) mysql> mysql> mysql> drop table Employee; Query OK, 0 rows affected (0.00 sec)</source>

Two NULL values are regarded as equal in a GROUP BY

   <source lang="sql">

mysql> mysql> mysql> mysql> mysql> CREATE TABLE Employee(

   ->     id            int,
   ->     first_name    VARCHAR(15),
   ->     last_name     VARCHAR(15),
   ->     start_date    DATE,
   ->     end_date      DATE,
   ->     salary        FLOAT(8,2),
   ->     city          VARCHAR(10),
   ->     description   VARCHAR(15)
   -> );

Query OK, 0 rows affected (0.03 sec) mysql> mysql> mysql> insert into Employee(id,first_name, last_name, start_date, end_Date, salary, City, Description)

   ->              values (1,"Jason",    "Martin",  "19960725",  "20060725", 1234.56, "Toronto",  "Programmer");

Query OK, 1 row affected (0.00 sec) mysql> mysql> insert into Employee(id,first_name, last_name, start_date, end_Date, salary, City, Description)

   ->               values(2,"Alison",   "Mathews",  "19760321", "19860221", 6661.78, "Vancouver","Tester");

Query OK, 1 row affected (0.00 sec) mysql> mysql> insert into Employee(id,first_name, last_name, start_date, end_Date, salary, City, Description)

   ->               values(3,"James",    "Smith",    "19781212", "19900315", 6544.78, "Vancouver","Tester");

Query OK, 1 row affected (0.02 sec) mysql> mysql> insert into Employee(id,first_name, last_name, start_date, end_Date, salary, City, Description)

   ->               values(4,"Celia",    "Rice",     "19821024", "19990421", 2344.78, "Vancouver","Manager");

Query OK, 1 row affected (0.00 sec) mysql> mysql> insert into Employee(id,first_name, last_name, start_date, end_Date, salary, City, Description)

   ->               values(5,"Robert",   "Black",    "19840115", "19980808", 2334.78, "Vancouver","Tester");

Query OK, 1 row affected (0.00 sec) mysql> mysql> insert into Employee(id,first_name, last_name, start_date, end_Date, salary, City, Description)

   ->               values(6,"Linda",    "Green",    "19870730", "19960104", 4322.78,"New York",  "Tester");

Query OK, 1 row affected (0.00 sec) mysql> mysql> insert into Employee(id,first_name, last_name, start_date, end_Date, salary, City, Description)

   ->               values(7,"David",    "Larry",    "19901231", "19980212", 7897.78,NULL,        "Manager");

Query OK, 1 row affected (0.00 sec) mysql> mysql> insert into Employee(id,first_name, last_name, start_date, end_Date, salary, City, Description)

   ->               values(8,"James",    "Cat",     "19960917",  "20020415", 1232.78,NULL ,       "Tester");

Query OK, 1 row affected (0.00 sec) mysql> mysql> select * from Employee; +------+------------+-----------+------------+------------+---------+-----------+-------------+ | id | first_name | last_name | start_date | end_date | salary | city | description | +------+------------+-----------+------------+------------+---------+-----------+-------------+ | 1 | Jason | Martin | 1996-07-25 | 2006-07-25 | 1234.56 | Toronto | Programmer | | 2 | Alison | Mathews | 1976-03-21 | 1986-02-21 | 6661.78 | Vancouver | Tester | | 3 | James | Smith | 1978-12-12 | 1990-03-15 | 6544.78 | Vancouver | Tester | | 4 | Celia | Rice | 1982-10-24 | 1999-04-21 | 2344.78 | Vancouver | Manager | | 5 | Robert | Black | 1984-01-15 | 1998-08-08 | 2334.78 | Vancouver | Tester | | 6 | Linda | Green | 1987-07-30 | 1996-01-04 | 4322.78 | New York | Tester | | 7 | David | Larry | 1990-12-31 | 1998-02-12 | 7897.78 | NULL | Manager | | 8 | James | Cat | 1996-09-17 | 2002-04-15 | 1232.78 | NULL | Tester | +------+------------+-----------+------------+------------+---------+-----------+-------------+ 8 rows in set (0.00 sec) mysql> mysql> mysql> mysql> select city, count(*) from employee group by city; +-----------+----------+ | city | count(*) | +-----------+----------+ | NULL | 2 | | New York | 1 | | Toronto | 1 | | Vancouver | 4 | +-----------+----------+ 4 rows in set (0.00 sec) mysql> mysql> drop table Employee; Query OK, 0 rows affected (0.00 sec) mysql> mysql></source>

Use 0 and "" is not NULL

   <source lang="sql">

mysql> mysql> SELECT 0 IS NULL, 0 IS NOT NULL, "" IS NULL, "" IS NOT NULL; +-----------+---------------+------------+----------------+ | 0 IS NULL | 0 IS NOT NULL | "" IS NULL | "" IS NOT NULL | +-----------+---------------+------------+----------------+ | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | +-----------+---------------+------------+----------------+ 1 row in set (0.00 sec)</source>

Use the IS NULL and IS NOT NULL operators for NULL value

   <source lang="sql">

mysql> mysql> SELECT 1 IS NULL, 1 IS NOT NULL; +-----------+---------------+ | 1 IS NULL | 1 IS NOT NULL | +-----------+---------------+ | 0 | 1 | +-----------+---------------+ 1 row in set (0.00 sec) mysql></source>