ClickHouse/docs/en/sql-reference/operators/exists.md
Avery Fischer b75653e449
Add more doc examples for the EXISTS operator
The existing documentation for EXISTS makes it look like it only works
as part of a WHERE clause, when in fact, it can be used in many places.
Changing the docs to note that a bit differently with another example
should provide more clarity on the use of this term.
2023-11-30 10:57:44 +01:00

1.4 KiB

slug
/en/sql-reference/operators/exists

EXISTS

The EXISTS operator checks how many records are in the result of a subquery. If it is empty, then the operator returns 0. Otherwise, it returns 1.

EXISTS can also be used in a WHERE clause.

:::tip
References to main query tables and columns are not supported in a subquery. :::

Syntax

EXISTS(subquery)

Example

Query checking existence of values in a subquery:

SELECT EXISTS(SELECT * FROM numbers(10) WHERE number > 8), EXISTS(SELECT * FROM numbers(10) WHERE number > 11)

Result:

┌─in(1, _subquery1)─┬─in(1, _subquery2)─┐
│                 1 │                 0 │
└───────────────────┴───────────────────┘

Query with a subquery returning several rows:

SELECT count() FROM numbers(10) WHERE EXISTS(SELECT number FROM numbers(10) WHERE number > 8);

Result:

┌─count()─┐
│      10 │
└─────────┘

Query with a subquery that returns an empty result:

SELECT count() FROM numbers(10) WHERE EXISTS(SELECT number FROM numbers(10) WHERE number > 11);

Result:

┌─count()─┐
│       0 │
└─────────┘