--- sidebar_label: EXCEPT --- # EXCEPT Clause {#except-clause} The `EXCEPT` clause returns only those rows that result from the first query without the second. The queries must match the number of columns, order, and type. The result of `EXCEPT` can contain duplicate rows. Multiple `EXCEPT` statements are executed left to right if parenthesis are not specified. The `EXCEPT` operator has the same priority as the `UNION` clause and lower priority than the `INTERSECT` clause. ``` sql SELECT column1 [, column2 ] FROM table1 [WHERE condition] EXCEPT SELECT column1 [, column2 ] FROM table2 [WHERE condition] ``` The condition could be any expression based on your requirements. **Examples** Query: ``` sql SELECT number FROM numbers(1,10) EXCEPT SELECT number FROM numbers(3,6); ``` Result: ``` text ┌─number─┐ │ 1 │ │ 2 │ │ 9 │ │ 10 │ └────────┘ ``` Query: ``` sql CREATE TABLE t1(one String, two String, three String) ENGINE=Memory(); CREATE TABLE t2(four String, five String, six String) ENGINE=Memory(); INSERT INTO t1 VALUES ('q', 'm', 'b'), ('s', 'd', 'f'), ('l', 'p', 'o'), ('s', 'd', 'f'), ('s', 'd', 'f'), ('k', 't', 'd'), ('l', 'p', 'o'); INSERT INTO t2 VALUES ('q', 'm', 'b'), ('b', 'd', 'k'), ('s', 'y', 't'), ('s', 'd', 'f'), ('m', 'f', 'o'), ('k', 'k', 'd'); SELECT * FROM t1 EXCEPT SELECT * FROM t2; ``` Result: ``` text ┌─one─┬─two─┬─three─┐ │ l │ p │ o │ │ k │ t │ d │ │ l │ p │ o │ └─────┴─────┴───────┘ ``` **See Also** - [UNION](union.md#union-clause) - [INTERSECT](intersect.md#intersect-clause)