DbSchema Tutorial | SQL IN OPERATOR

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SQL Tutorial • 08-Sep-2023

by Malik Umair Sajjad

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SQL, or Structured Query Language, is a standard programming language specifically for managing data in relational databases. One of its powerful operators is the IN operator. This article will provide an in-depth look into the SQL IN operator, its uses, common mistakes, and more.

Introduction to SQL IN Operator

The IN operator is used in SQL to filter results based on a list of values. It allows you to specify multiple values in a WHERE clause, making your query more concise and readable.

Syntax:

SELECT column_name(s)
FROM table_name
WHERE column_name IN (value1, value2, ...);

Example:

Consider a sample table Students:

ID	Name	Age	Grade
1	Alice	23	A
2	Bob	25	B
3	Charlie	22	A
4	David	24	C

To select students with grades A or B:

SELECT Name
FROM Students
WHERE Grade IN ('A', 'B');

Result:

Name
Alice
Bob
Charlie

Explanation:

In this example, the query retrieves students who have grades A or B.

Difference between = and IN Operator

Aspect	= Operator	IN Operator
Values	Single	Multiple
Syntax	column = value	column IN (value1, value2, ...)
Use Case	Comparing against one value	Comparing against a list of values

Using IN with Strings

Strings can easily be used with the IN operator by enclosing them in single quotes.

Example:

To select students named Alice or David:

SELECT Name
FROM Students
WHERE Name IN ('Alice', 'David');

Result:

Name
Alice
David

Explanation:

Here, the query retrieves only the students named Alice and David.

Using IN with Numbers

The IN operator can also handle numerical values.

Example:

To select students with ID 1 or 4:

SELECT Name
FROM Students
WHERE ID IN (1, 4);

Result:

Name
Alice
David

Explanation:

This query fetches students whose IDs are either 1 or 4.

Using IN with Dates

For date values, ensure they are formatted correctly.

Example:

Consider a table Orders:

OrderID	Product	OrderDate
1	Apple	2023-01-10
2	Banana	2023-02-15
3	Cherry	2023-01-10

To select orders made on 2023-01-10:

SELECT Product
FROM Orders
WHERE OrderDate IN ('2023-01-10');

Result:

Product
Apple
Cherry

Explanation:

This query retrieves products ordered on 2023-01-10.

Using IN with Columns

You can compare columns using the IN operator.

Example:

To select students with the same age as Alice:

SELECT Name
FROM Students
WHERE Age IN (SELECT Age FROM Students WHERE Name = 'Alice');

Result:

Name
Alice
Charlie

Explanation:

Both Alice and Charlie share the same age.

Using IN with Subqueries

Subqueries can return a list of values for the IN operator.

Example:

To select students not in grade A:

SELECT Name
FROM Students
WHERE Grade NOT IN (SELECT Grade FROM Students WHERE Grade = 'A');

Result:

Name
Bob
David

Explanation:

This query retrieves students who aren’t in grade A.

NOT IN Operator

The NOT IN operator fetches rows that don’t match values in a list.

Example:

To select students not named Alice or David:

SELECT Name
FROM Students
WHERE Name NOT IN ('Alice', 'David');

Result:

Name
Bob
Charlie

Explanation:

Here, Bob and Charlie are the students not named Alice or David.

Applying IN in SELECT, UPDATE Statements

SELECT

We’ve seen the use of IN in the SELECT statement in previous examples.

UPDATE

You can use IN in the UPDATE statement to modify multiple rows.

Example:

To update grades of Alice and David to D:

UPDATE Students
SET Grade = 'D'
WHERE Name IN ('Alice', 'David');

Explanation:

After this, both Alice and David will have a grade of D.

Common Mistakes

1. Forgetting the Parentheses: Always enclose values in parentheses.
2. Mixing Data Types: Ensure consistent data types within the IN list.
3. Overusing: For single value comparison, the = operator is more readable.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is IN case-sensitive? - It depends on the database. Some databases are case-sensitive, while others aren’t.
2. Can IN be used with JOIN? - Yes, you can combine JOIN and IN in a query.
3. Is there a limit to values in IN? - Some databases may have a limit. However, excessively long lists can decrease performance.

Practice Questions

1. Write a query to find products not sold on 2023-02-15.
2. Update student grades to F for ages 23 and 25.
3. Fetch students with grades other than A and B.
4. Retrieve orders placed on 2023-01-10 and 2023-02-15.

Conclusion

The SQL IN operator is a versatile and powerful tool in database querying, offering a concise way to filter results based on a list of values. Whether you’re working with strings, numbers, dates, or even subqueries, understanding the IN operator can significantly streamline your SQL workflows. This comprehensive guide aimed to provide a clear, detailed, and practical overview of its applications, ensuring that both beginners and experienced database enthusiasts can harness its full potential. As always, hands-on practice is the key to mastering any concept, so make use of the practice questions and real-world scenarios to refine your skills.

Happy data exploring!