EQUAL_NULL

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Syntax

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Scalar

equal_null(value1, value2)

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Arguments

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Returns

• Type: BOOLEAN
• Possible values: TRUE or FALSE.
• NULL behavior: Returns TRUE when both inputs are NULL; FALSE when exactly one is NULL. The result is non-NULL.

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Properties

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Usage notes

• Non-NULL arguments are compared after compatible comparison type conversion.
• The SQL comparison IS NOT DISTINCT FROM uses the same NULL-safe equality rules.
• INTEGER and INT mean the same type; STRING means VARCHAR text. NULL can be used with a supported type. Cast NULL explicitly when its type would otherwise be unclear.
• Deterministic: The same inputs and settings produce the same result.

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Examples

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Typical behavior

SELECT equal_null(CAST(NULL AS INT), CAST(NULL AS INT)) AS both_null, equal_null(CAST(NULL AS INT), 1) AS one_null;

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Compare string values and NULL

SELECT equal_null('red', 'red') AS equal_strings, equal_null('red', CAST(NULL AS VARCHAR)) AS one_null, equal_null(CAST(NULL AS VARCHAR), CAST(NULL AS VARCHAR)) AS both_null;

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Related functions

• nullif