equal_null function

Applies to: check marked yes Databricks SQL check marked yes Databricks Runtime 11.3 LTS and above

Returns true if expr1 equals expr2 or both expressions are NULL, or false otherwise. This function differs from = (eq sign) operator, by treating NULL as a comparable value.

Syntax 

equal_null ( expr1, expr2 )

Arguments

  • expr1: An expression of any comparable type.

  • expr2: An expression sharing a least common type with expr1.

Returns

A BOOLEAN.

Examples 

> SELECT equal_null(2, 2);
 true

> SELECT equal_null(2, 1);
 false

> SELECT equal_null(NULL, 1);
 false

> SELECT NULL == 1;
 NULL

> SELECT equal_null(NULL, NULL);
 true

> SELECT NULL == NULL;
 NULL