NVL: Returns a substitute (some other value) if a value is null

 

SQL>
SQL> -- create demo table
SQL> create table TestTable(
  2    ID                 VARCHAR2(4 BYTE)         NOT NULL,
  3    MyName             VARCHAR2(10 BYTE),
  4    MyDate             DATE,
  5    MyNumber           Number(8,2)
  6  )
  7  /

Table created.

SQL>
SQL>
SQL> insert into TestTable (ID, MyName, MyDate, MyNumber) values('1','Alison',to_date('19960711','YYYYMMDD'),12.12);

1 row created.

SQL> insert into TestTable (ID, MyName, MyDate, MyNumber) values('2','Jason',to_date('19970622','YYYYMMDD'),-12.12);

1 row created.

SQL> insert into TestTable (ID, MyName, MyDate, MyNumber) values('3','Smith',to_date('19980513','YYYYMMDD'),22.1);

1 row created.

SQL> insert into TestTable (ID, MyName, MyDate, MyNumber) values('4','Tailor',to_date('19990624','YYYYMMDD'),-2.12);

1 row created.

SQL> insert into TestTable (ID, MyName, MyDate, MyNumber) values('5','Darlene',to_date('20000415','YYYYMMDD'),NULL);

1 row created.

SQL>
SQL>
SQL> select * from TestTable;

ID   MYNAME     MYDATE      MYNUMBER
---- ---------- --------- ----------
1    Alison     11-JUL-96      12.12
2    Jason      22-JUN-97     -12.12
3    Smith      13-MAY-98       22.1
4    Tailor     24-JUN-99      -2.12
5    Darlene    15-APR-00

SQL>
SQL> --  NVL: Returns a substitute (some other value) if a value is null.
SQL>
SQL>
SQL> SELECT MyNumber, NVL(MyNumber, 10) From TestTable;

  MYNUMBER NVL(MYNUMBER,10)
---------- ----------------
     12.12            12.12
    -12.12           -12.12
      22.1             22.1
     -2.12            -2.12
                         10

SQL>
SQL>
SQL>
SQL>
SQL>
SQL> drop table TestTable;

Table dropped.

SQL>
SQL>

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10.	This will fail, because the datatypes of the two arguments are different
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13.	Use Nvl function in math calculation for null value

NVL: Returns a substitute (some other value) if a value is null : NVL « Char Functions « Oracle PL / SQL

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