ClickHouse/docs/en/sql-reference/functions/conditional-functions.md
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---
slug: /en/sql-reference/functions/conditional-functions
sidebar_position: 40
sidebar_label: Conditional
---
# Conditional Functions
## if
Performs conditional branching.
If the condition `cond` evaluates to a non-zero value, the function returns the result of the expression `then`. If `cond` evaluates to zero or `NULL`, then the result of the `else` expression is returned.
Setting [short_circuit_function_evaluation](../../operations/settings/settings.md#short-circuit-function-evaluation) controls whether short-circuit evaluation is used. If enabled, the `then` expression is evaluated only on rows where `cond` is `true` and the `else` expression where `cond` is `false`. For example, with short-circuit evaluation, no division-by-zero exception is thrown when executing the query `SELECT if(number = 0, 0, intDiv(42, number)) FROM numbers(10)`.
`then` and `else` must be of a similar type.
**Syntax**
``` sql
if(cond, then, else)
```
Alias: `cond ? then : else` (ternary operator)
**Arguments**
- `cond` The evaluated condition. UInt8, Nullable(UInt8) or NULL.
- `then` The expression returned if `condition` is true.
- `else` The expression returned if `condition` is `false` or NULL.
**Returned values**
The result of either the `then` and `else` expressions, depending on condition `cond`.
**Example**
``` sql
SELECT if(1, plus(2, 2), plus(2, 6));
```
Result:
``` text
┌─plus(2, 2)─┐
│ 4 │
└────────────┘
```
## multiIf
Allows to write the [CASE](../../sql-reference/operators/index.md#operator_case) operator more compactly in the query.
**Syntax**
``` sql
multiIf(cond_1, then_1, cond_2, then_2, ..., else)
```
Setting [short_circuit_function_evaluation](../../operations/settings/settings.md#short-circuit-function-evaluation) controls whether short-circuit evaluation is used. If enabled, the `then_i` expression is evaluated only on rows where `((NOT cond_1) AND (NOT cond_2) AND ... AND (NOT cond_{i-1}) AND cond_i)` is `true`, `cond_i` will be evaluated only on rows where `((NOT cond_1) AND (NOT cond_2) AND ... AND (NOT cond_{i-1}))` is `true`. For example, with short-circuit evaluation, no division-by-zero exception is thrown when executing the query `SELECT multiIf(number = 2, intDiv(1, number), number = 5) FROM numbers(10)`.
**Arguments**
The function accepts `2N+1` parameters:
- `cond_N` — The N-th evaluated condition which controls if `then_N` is returned.
- `then_N` — The result of the function when `cond_N` is true.
- `else` — The result of the function if none of conditions is true.
**Returned values**
The result of either any of the `then_N` or `else` expressions, depending on the conditions `cond_N`.
**Example**
Assuming this table:
``` text
┌─left─┬─right─┐
│ ᴺᵁᴸᴸ │ 4 │
│ 1 │ 3 │
│ 2 │ 2 │
│ 3 │ 1 │
│ 4 │ ᴺᵁᴸᴸ │
└──────┴───────┘
```
``` sql
SELECT
left,
right,
multiIf(left < right, 'left is smaller', left > right, 'left is greater', left = right, 'Both equal', 'Null value') AS result
FROM LEFT_RIGHT
┌─left─┬─right─┬─result──────────┐
│ ᴺᵁᴸᴸ │ 4 │ Null value │
│ 1 │ 3 │ left is smaller │
│ 2 │ 2 │ Both equal │
│ 3 │ 1 │ left is greater │
│ 4 │ ᴺᵁᴸᴸ │ Null value │
└──────┴───────┴─────────────────┘
```
## Using Conditional Results Directly
Conditionals always result to `0`, `1` or `NULL`. So you can use conditional results directly like this:
``` sql
SELECT left < right AS is_small
FROM LEFT_RIGHT
┌─is_small─┐
ᴺᵁᴸᴸ
1
0
0
ᴺᵁᴸᴸ
└──────────┘
```
## NULL Values in Conditionals
When `NULL` values are involved in conditionals, the result will also be `NULL`.
``` sql
SELECT
NULL < 1,
2 < NULL,
NULL < NULL,
NULL = NULL
┌─less(NULL, 1)─┬─less(2, NULL)─┬─less(NULL, NULL)─┬─equals(NULL, NULL)─┐
│ ᴺᵁᴸᴸ │ ᴺᵁᴸᴸ │ ᴺᵁᴸᴸ │ ᴺᵁᴸᴸ │
└───────────────┴───────────────┴──────────────────┴────────────────────┘
```
So you should construct your queries carefully if the types are `Nullable`.
The following example demonstrates this by failing to add equals condition to `multiIf`.
``` sql
SELECT
left,
right,
multiIf(left < right, 'left is smaller', left > right, 'right is smaller', 'Both equal') AS faulty_result
FROM LEFT_RIGHT
┌─left─┬─right─┬─faulty_result────┐
│ ᴺᵁᴸᴸ │ 4 │ Both equal │
│ 1 │ 3 │ left is smaller │
│ 2 │ 2 │ Both equal │
│ 3 │ 1 │ right is smaller │
│ 4 │ ᴺᵁᴸᴸ │ Both equal │
└──────┴───────┴──────────────────┘
```
## greatest
Returns the greatest across a list of values. All of the list members must be of comparable types.
Examples:
```sql
SELECT greatest(1, 2, toUInt8(3), 3.) result, toTypeName(result) type;
```
```response
┌─result─┬─type────┐
│ 3 │ Float64 │
└────────┴─────────┘
```
:::note
The type returned is a Float64 as the UInt8 must be promoted to 64 bit for the comparison.
:::
```sql
SELECT greatest(['hello'], ['there'], ['world'])
```
```response
┌─greatest(['hello'], ['there'], ['world'])─┐
│ ['world'] │
└───────────────────────────────────────────┘
```
```sql
SELECT greatest(toDateTime32(now() + toIntervalDay(1)), toDateTime64(now(), 3))
```
```response
┌─greatest(toDateTime32(plus(now(), toIntervalDay(1))), toDateTime64(now(), 3))─┐
│ 2023-05-12 01:16:59.000 │
└──---──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
```
:::note
The type returned is a DateTime64 as the DataTime32 must be promoted to 64 bit for the comparison.
:::
## least
Returns the least across a list of values. All of the list members must be of comparable types.
Examples:
```sql
SELECT least(1, 2, toUInt8(3), 3.) result, toTypeName(result) type;
```
```response
┌─result─┬─type────┐
│ 1 │ Float64 │
└────────┴─────────┘
```
:::note
The type returned is a Float64 as the UInt8 must be promoted to 64 bit for the comparison.
:::
```sql
SELECT least(['hello'], ['there'], ['world'])
```
```response
┌─least(['hello'], ['there'], ['world'])─┐
│ ['hello'] │
└────────────────────────────────────────┘
```
```sql
SELECT least(toDateTime32(now() + toIntervalDay(1)), toDateTime64(now(), 3))
```
```response
┌─least(toDateTime32(plus(now(), toIntervalDay(1))), toDateTime64(now(), 3))─┐
│ 2023-05-12 01:16:59.000 │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
```
:::note
The type returned is a DateTime64 as the DataTime32 must be promoted to 64 bit for the comparison.
:::