Re: NOT IN (NULL) ?

From: Tom Lane <tgl(at)sss(dot)pgh(dot)pa(dot)us>
To: "Paul" <magamos(at)mail(dot)ru>
Cc: pgsql-general(at)postgresql(dot)org
Subject: Re: NOT IN (NULL) ?
Date: 2010-10-31 17:19:14
Message-ID: 24334.1288545554@sss.pgh.pa.us
Views: Raw Message | Whole Thread | Download mbox | Resend email
Thread:
Lists: pgsql-general

"Paul" <magamos(at)mail(dot)ru> writes:
> But there is not such thing in PostgreSQL as empty set as "IN ()" that must be
> false, because nothing element may be found in empty set.
> And I thought that instead of "IN ()" I could use "IN (NULL)", but I
> was failed and result was NULL and not FALSE. :(

NULL is not an alternative spelling for an empty set.

You could get an empty IN set by using a sub-select yielding no rows,
for example

regression=# select 1 in (select 1 where false);
?column?
----------
f
(1 row)

regression=# select 1 not in (select 1 where false);
?column?
----------
t
(1 row)

regards, tom lane

In response to

Browse pgsql-general by date

  From Date Subject
Next Message Alexander Farber 2010-10-31 17:28:56 Re: Implementing replace function
Previous Message Pavel Stehule 2010-10-31 17:08:16 Re: NOT IN (NULL) ?