Categories:: Conditional expression functions

[ NOT ] EQUAL_NULL¶

Compares whether two expressions are equal. The function is NULL-safe, meaning it treats NULLs as known values for comparing equality. Note that this is different from the EQUAL comparison operator (=), which treats NULLs as unknown values.

See also:: IS [ NOT ] DISTINCT FROM

Syntax¶

[ NOT ] EQUAL_NULL( <expr1> , <expr2> )

Usage notes¶

The value returned depends on whether any of the inputs are NULL values:

Returns TRUE:

EQUAL_NULL( <null> , <null> )

Returns FALSE:

EQUAL_NULL( <null> , <not_null> )

EQUAL_NULL( <not_null> , <null> )

Otherwise:

EQUAL_NULL(<expr1>, <expr2>) is equivalent to <expr1> = <expr2>

For more details, see the examples below.

Collation details¶

The collation specifications of all input arguments must be compatible.
The comparisons follow the collation based on the input arguments’ collations and precedences.

Examples¶

Create a table with simple data:

CREATE OR REPLACE TABLE x (i NUMBER);
INSERT INTO x VALUES
  (1),
  (2),
  (NULL);

Show the Cartesian product generated by joining the table to itself without a filter:

SELECT x1.i x1_i, x2.i x2_i
  FROM x x1, x x2
  ORDER BY x1.i, x2.i;

+------+------+
| X1_I | X2_I |
|------+------|
|    1 |    1 |
|    1 |    2 |
|    1 | NULL |
|    2 |    1 |
|    2 |    2 |
|    2 | NULL |
| NULL |    1 |
| NULL |    2 |
| NULL | NULL |
+------+------+

Return rows that contain only equal values for both columns:

SELECT x1.i x1_i, x2.i x2_i
  FROM x x1, x x2
  WHERE x1.i = x2.i;

+------+------+
| X1_I | X2_I |
|------+------|
|    1 |    1 |
|    2 |    2 |
+------+------+

Return rows that contain only equal values or NULL values for both columns:

SELECT x1.i x1_i, x2.i x2_i
  FROM x x1, x x2
  WHERE EQUAL_NULL(x1.i, x2.i);

+------+------+
| X1_I | X2_I |
|------+------|
|    1 |    1 |
|    2 |    2 |
| NULL | NULL |
+------+------+

Illustrate all possible outcomes for EQUAL (=) and NOT EQUAL (<>):

SELECT x1.i x1_i,
       x2.i x2_i,
       x1.i = x2.i,
       IFF(x1.i = x2.i, 'Selected', 'Not') "SELECT IF X1.I=X2.I",
       x1.i <> x2.i,
       IFF(NOT(x1.i = x2.i), 'Selected', 'Not') "SELECT IF X1.I<>X2.I"
  FROM x x1, x x2;

+------+------+-----------+---------------------+------------+----------------------+
| X1_I | X2_I | X1.I=X2.I | SELECT IF X1.I=X2.I | X1.I<>X2.I | SELECT IF X1.I<>X2.I |
|------+------+-----------+---------------------+------------+----------------------|
|    1 |    1 | True      | Selected            | False      | Not                  |
|    1 |    2 | False     | Not                 | True       | Selected             |
|    1 | NULL | NULL      | Not                 | NULL       | Not                  |
|    2 |    1 | False     | Not                 | True       | Selected             |
|    2 |    2 | True      | Selected            | False      | Not                  |
|    2 | NULL | NULL      | Not                 | NULL       | Not                  |
| NULL |    1 | NULL      | Not                 | NULL       | Not                  |
| NULL |    2 | NULL      | Not                 | NULL       | Not                  |
| NULL | NULL | NULL      | Not                 | NULL       | Not                  |
+------+------+-----------+---------------------+------------+----------------------+

Illustrate all possible outcomes for EQUAL_NULL and NOT EQUAL_NULL:

SELECT x1.i x1_i,
       x2.i x2_i,
       EQUAL_NULL(x1.i, x2.i),
       IFF(EQUAL_NULL(x1.i, x2.i), 'Selected', 'Not') "SELECT IF EQUAL_NULL(X1.I,X2.I)",
       NOT EQUAL_NULL(x1.i, x2.i),
       IFF(NOT EQUAL_NULL(x1.i, x2.i), 'Selected', 'Not') "SELECT IF NOT(EQUAL_NULL(X1.I,X2.I))"
  FROM x x1, x x2;

+------+------+------------------------+---------------------------------+----------------------------+--------------------------------------+
| X1_I | X2_I | EQUAL_NULL(X1.I, X2.I) | SELECT IF EQUAL_NULL(X1.I,X2.I) | NOT EQUAL_NULL(X1.I, X2.I) | SELECT IF NOT(EQUAL_NULL(X1.I,X2.I)) |
|------+------+------------------------+---------------------------------+----------------------------+--------------------------------------|
|    1 |    1 | True                   | Selected                        | False                      | Not                                  |
|    2 |    1 | False                  | Not                             | True                       | Selected                             |
| NULL |    1 | False                  | Not                             | True                       | Selected                             |
|    1 |    2 | False                  | Not                             | True                       | Selected                             |
|    2 |    2 | True                   | Selected                        | False                      | Not                                  |
| NULL |    2 | False                  | Not                             | True                       | Selected                             |
|    1 | NULL | False                  | Not                             | True                       | Selected                             |
|    2 | NULL | False                  | Not                             | True                       | Selected                             |
| NULL | NULL | True                   | Selected                        | False                      | Not                                  |
+------+------+------------------------+---------------------------------+----------------------------+--------------------------------------+