MySQL Tutorial/Comparison Functions Operators/IS NULL ISNULL

Check to see if the first name is NULL

   <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 (0.00 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 (0.00 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 | Linda | 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 * from employee where first_name is NULL; +------+------------+-----------+------------+------------+---------+-----------+-------------+ | id | first_name | last_name | start_date | end_date | salary | city | description | +------+------------+-----------+------------+------------+---------+-----------+-------------+ | 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 | +------+------------+-----------+------------+------------+---------+-----------+-------------+ 2 rows in set (0.00 sec) mysql> mysql> mysql> drop table Employee; Query OK, 0 rows affected (0.00 sec)</source>

IS NOT NULL: Tests whether a value is not NULL

   <source lang="sql">

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

IS NULL

   <source lang="sql">

mysql> Tests whether a value is NULL. mysql> mysql> SELECT 1 IS NULL, 0 IS NULL, NULL IS NULL; +-----------+-----------+--------------+ | 1 IS NULL | 0 IS NULL | NULL IS NULL | +-----------+-----------+--------------+ | 0 | 0 | 1 | +-----------+-----------+--------------+ 1 row in set (0.00 sec) mysql></source>

ISNULL(expr): If expr is NULL, ISNULL() returns 1, otherwise it returns 0

   <source lang="sql">

mysql> mysql> SELECT ISNULL(1+1); +-------------+ | ISNULL(1+1) | +-------------+ | 0 | +-------------+ 1 row in set (0.02 sec)</source>

SELECT ISNULL(1/0);

   <source lang="sql">

mysql> mysql> SELECT ISNULL(1/0); +-------------+ | ISNULL(1/0) | +-------------+ | 1 | +-------------+ 1 row in set (0.00 sec) mysql> mysql> ISNULL() can be used instead of = to test whether a value is NULL. Comparing a value to NULL using = always yields false. mysql></source>

Using ISNULL in where clause

   <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 (0.00 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(NULL,"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(NULL,"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 | | NULL | 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 | | NULL | 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> select * from Employee where ISNULL(id) = 1; +------+------------+-----------+------------+------------+---------+-----------+-------------+ | id | first_name | last_name | start_date | end_date | salary | city | description | +------+------------+-----------+------------+------------+---------+-----------+-------------+ | NULL | Robert | Black | 1984-01-15 | 1998-08-08 | 2334.78 | Vancouver | Tester | | NULL | David | Larry | 1990-12-31 | 1998-02-12 | 7897.78 | New York | Manager | +------+------------+-----------+------------+------------+---------+-----------+-------------+ 2 rows in set (0.00 sec) mysql> mysql> drop table Employee; Query OK, 0 rows affected (0.00 sec) mysql> mysql></source>

Using ISNULL with data in a table

   <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 (0.25 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 (0.06 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(NULL,"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(NULL,"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 | | NULL | 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 | | NULL | 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 (0.06 sec) mysql> mysql> select ISNULL(id) from Employee; +------------+ | ISNULL(id) | +------------+ | 0 | | 0 | | 0 | | 0 | | 1 | | 0 | | 1 | | 0 | +------------+ 8 rows in set (0.03 sec) mysql> mysql> drop table Employee; Query OK, 0 rows affected (0.00 sec) mysql> mysql></source>