MS SQL Server Concepts and Programming Question:

Download Job Interview Questions and Answers PDF

What Happens If NULL Values Are Involved in Comparison Operations?

MS SQL Server Interview Question
MS SQL Server Interview Question

Answer:

If NULL values are involved in comparison operations, the result will be Boolean NULL values. This behavior is very interesting because you would expect a comparison operation returns only one of the two values: TRUE and FALSE. But SQL Server may return you a third value: NULL.

The tutorial script below proves that "1>NULL" is not returning TRUE or FALSE. It is returning a third value, NULL:

IF 1>NULL PRINT '1>NULL is returning TRUE'
ELSE PRINT '1>NULL is not returning TRUE'
GO
1>NULL is not returning TRUE

IF NOT 1>NULL PRINT '1>NULL is returning FALSE'
ELSE PRINT '1>NULL is not returning FALSE'
GO
1>NULL is not returning FALSE

Another test proves that "'GGL'=NULL" is not returning TRUE or FALSE. It is returning a third value, NULL:

IF 'GGL'=NULL PRINT '''GGL''=NULL returns TRUE'
ELSE PRINT '''GGL''=NULL does not return TRUE'
GO
'GGL'=NULL does not return TRUE

IF NOT 'GGL'=NULL PRINT '''GGL''=NULL returns FALSE'
ELSE PRINT '''GGL''=NULL does not return FALSE'
GO
'GGL'=NULL does not return FALSE

Download MS SQL Server Interview Questions And Answers PDF

Previous QuestionNext Question
What Happens If NULL Values Are Involved in Bitwise Operations?What Happens If NULL Values Are Involved in Boolean Operations?