Comparison operators

Learn =, <>, <, >, <=, >= operators.

Comparison operators

SQL has six basic comparison operators: =, <>, <, >, <=, >=. You compare columns with constants in conditions.

SELECT name FROM products
WHERE stock <= 5;

This returns products with stock of 5 or fewer.

name is selected from products. WHERE keeps only the rows where stock <= 5 holds.

Comparison operators — details

There are two ways to write not-equal: <> and !=. Both are valid ANSI SQL; <> is more common. Text values go in single quotes, numbers without quotes.

For example, WHERE price >= 100 returns products costing 100 or more, and WHERE stock <> 0 returns those whose stock isn't zero.

Exercise Comparison operators

Select name and stock from products where stock is less than 5.

Show example solution

SELECT name, stock
FROM products
WHERE stock < 5

Test yourself

Less than or equal

SELECT name FROM products
WHERE stock ____ 5;

Show answer

SELECT name FROM products
WHERE stock <= 5;

What does <> mean?
- Equal to
- Less than
- Greater than
- Not equal to
Show answer

Not equal to — <> means not equal.
Comparison operators: match the terms

=

equal
<>

not equal
<=

less or equal
>=

greater or equal

Next lesson: AND and OR

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