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Oracle9i SQL Reference
Release 2 (9.2)

Part Number A96540-02
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Comparison Conditions

Comparison conditions compare one expression with another. The result of such a comparison can be TRUE, FALSE, or UNKNOWN.


Note:

Large objects (LOBs) are not supported in comparison conditions. However, you can use PL/SQL programs for comparisons on CLOB data.


Table 5-2 lists comparison conditions.

Table 5-2   Comparison Conditions
Type of Condition Purpose Example
=

Equality test.

SELECT *
  FROM employees
  WHERE salary = 2500;
!=
^=
<   >
¬=

Inequality test. Some forms of the inequality condition may be unavailable on some platforms.

SELECT *
  FROM employees
  WHERE salary != 2500;
>

<

"Greater than" and "less than" tests.

SELECT * FROM employees
  WHERE salary > 2500;
SELECT * FROM employees
  WHERE salary < 2500;
>=

<= 

"Greater than or equal to" and "less than or equal to" tests.

SELECT * FROM employees
  WHERE salary >= 2500;
SELECT * FROM employees
  WHERE salary <= 2500;
ANY
SOME 

Compares a value to each value in a list or returned by a query. Must be preceded by =, !=, >, <, <=, >=.

Evaluates to FALSE if the query returns no rows.

SELECT * FROM employees
  WHERE salary = ANY
  (SELECT salary 
   FROM employees
  WHERE department_id = 30);
ALL 

Compares a value to every value in a list or returned by a query. Must be preceded by =, !=, >, <, <=, >=.

Evaluates to TRUE if the query returns no rows.

SELECT * FROM employees
  WHERE salary >=
  ALL ( 1400, 3000);

Simple Comparison Conditions

A simple comparison condition specifies a comparison with expressions or subquery results.

simple_comparison_condition::=

Text description of conditionsa.gif follows
Text description of simple_comparison_condition


expression_list::=

Text description of conditions12.gif follows
Text description of expression_list


If you use the lower form of this condition (with multiple expressions to the left of the operator), then you must use the lower form of the expression_list, and the values returned by the subquery must match in number and datatype the expressions in expression_list.

See Also:

Group Comparison Conditions

A group comparison condition specifies a comparison with any or all members in a list or subquery.

group_comparison_condition::=

Text description of conditions2.gif follows
Text description of group_comparison_condition


expression_list::=

Text description of conditions13.gif follows
Text description of expression_list


If you use the upper form of this condition (with a single expression to the left of the operator), then you must use the upper form of expression_list. If you use the lower form of this condition (with multiple expressions to the left of the operator), then you must use the lower form of expression_list, and the expressions in each expression_list must match in number and datatype the expressions to the left of the operator.

See Also: