MySQL NULL Safe Equal To Operator

MySQL NULL Safe Equal To Operator

The MySQL <=> operator is used to compare two values, including NULLs. This operator is essential for filtering records where one value is equal to another, accounting for NULLs.

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Syntax

SELECT column1, column2, ...
FROM table_name
WHERE column1 <=> value;

The <=> operator has the following components:

• column1, column2, ...: The columns to be retrieved.
• table_name: The name of the table from which to retrieve the data.
• column1 <=> value: The condition to filter the records, where column1 is equal to a specified value, accounting for NULLs.

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Example MySQL NULL Safe Equal To Operator

Let's look at some examples of the MySQL <=> operator:

Step 1: Using the Database

USE mydatabase;

This query sets the context to the database named mydatabase.

Step 2: Creating a Table

Create a table to work with:

CREATE TABLE employees (
    id INT AUTO_INCREMENT PRIMARY KEY,
    first_name VARCHAR(50) NOT NULL,
    last_name VARCHAR(50) NOT NULL,
    department VARCHAR(50),
    salary DECIMAL(10, 2),
    bonus DECIMAL(10, 2) DEFAULT NULL
);

This query creates a table named employees with columns for id, first_name, last_name, department, salary, and bonus.

Step 3: Inserting Initial Rows

Insert some initial rows into the table:

INSERT INTO employees (first_name, last_name, department, salary, bonus)
VALUES ('John', 'Doe', 'HR', 50000.00, NULL),
       ('Jane', 'Smith', 'IT', 60000.00, 5000.00),
       ('Jim', 'Brown', 'IT', 55000.00, NULL),
       ('Jake', 'White', 'HR', 52000.00, 3000.00),
       ('Jill', 'Green', 'Marketing', 45000.00, 2000.00);

This query inserts five rows into the employees table.

Step 4: Using NULL Safe Equal To Operator with WHERE Clause

Use the <=> operator to filter records based on a condition:

SELECT * 
FROM employees 
WHERE bonus <=> NULL;

This query retrieves all columns from the employees table where the bonus is equal to NULL.

Step 5: Using NULL Safe Equal To Operator with Multiple Conditions

Use the <=> operator with multiple conditions:

SELECT * 
FROM employees 
WHERE department = 'IT' AND bonus <=> NULL;

This query retrieves all columns from the employees table where the department is 'IT' and the bonus is equal to NULL.

Step 6: Using NULL Safe Equal To with Multiple Columns

Use the <=> operator with multiple columns:

SELECT first_name, last_name 
FROM employees 
WHERE department <=> 'HR' AND bonus <=> NULL;

This query retrieves the first_name and last_name columns from the employees table where the department is equal to 'HR' and the bonus is equal to NULL.

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Conclusion

The MySQL <=> operator is a powerful tool for filtering records based on a comparison condition that includes NULL values. Understanding how to use the <=> operator is essential for effective data querying and analysis in MySQL.