TalkPHP - View Single Post - 5 Useful MySQL Functions And Control Flows

Sand_Devil · 11-30-2007, 10:54 PM

I've always found COALESCE to be very useful.
6: COALESCE

Returns the first non null entry

Code:

SELECT COALESCE (column1, column2, '') from table

Result: if column1 not null, then returns column1, if column1 is null and column2 is not, then will return column2, if both column1 and column2 is null, will return an empty string.

Extremely useful when you need to check for a null statement or need to set a flag if a value is null.

11-30-2007, 10:54 PM	#7 (permalink)
Sand_Devil The Wanderer Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: El Paso, TX Posts: 7 Thanks: 1	I've always found COALESCE to be very useful. 6: COALESCE Returns the first non null entry Code: SELECT COALESCE (column1, column2, '') from table Result: if column1 not null, then returns column1, if column1 is null and column2 is not, then will return column2, if both column1 and column2 is null, will return an empty string. Extremely useful when you need to check for a null statement or need to set a flag if a value is null. __________________ Because Every Child Deserves a Chance to Play Baseball in El Paso