MySQL coalesce() function

If you are working with MySQL, You might have the idea about that MySQL provides the various function which you can use when you require but before that it is necessary to understand the MySQL functions.Let’s understand the interesting function of MySQL.

If you don’t want to learn about some more functionalities of MySQL, read Table Optimization in MySQL and MySQL SHOW Commands.

What is Coalesce?

Coalesce is a MySQL function and it takes first non-null value in the list.If all value evaluates to null, then the coalesce function will return null. coalesce check all fields until non-null value found.COALESCE is a standard MySQL function which can take one or more arguments.COALESCE function can be used when you can use some other value if a NULL value in the field.

Syntax:

Here is the syntax for the Coalesce function in MySQL

Let’s see Coalesce function by example

First of all, let’s create table

Now let’s create query with using Coalesce function

Explanation:

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The above example, I have used three arguments to Coalesce function and above query returns name from the FirstName, MiddleName, LastName and its returns value of MiddleName if FirstName doesn’t have any value or NULL. then same for LastName, it returns LastName value if FirstName and MiddleName don’t have any value or NULL. and it returns NULL if all three FirstName, MiddleName and LastName are null.

As Coalesce function returns the first non-NULL value from the list, so below code will return the 1 as output instead of NULL.

And if all the values are NULL in the list, It will return the NULL

Open your MySQL Query Editor and copy paste the above code, Check how to it works. It is very simple,isn’t it?

This is very useful especially when you want to find out the not null values from multiple strings.Do you any other better way? Do let me know via the comment section.