IFNULL function [Miscellaneous]

If the first expression is the NULL value, then the value of the second expression is returned. If the first expression is not NULL, the value of the third expression is returned. If the first expression is not NULL and there is no third expression, NULL is returned.

Returns the first non NULL expression.

Syntax
IFNULL( expression-1, expression-2 [ , expression-3 ] )
Parameters
  • expression-1   The expression to be evaluated. Its value determines whether expression-2 or expression-3 is returned.

  • expression-2   The return value if expression-1 is NULL.

  • expression-3   The return value if expression-1 is not NULL.

Standards and compatibility
  • SQL/2003   Transact-SQL extension.

Example

The following statement returns the value -66.

SELECT IFNULL( NULL, -66 );

The following statement returns NULL, because the first expression is not NULL and there is no third expression.

SELECT IFNULL( -66, -66 );