SQL Operators

What are the different types of operators used in SQL, and how are they used?

SQL operators are symbols that perform operations on data. They are crucial for filtering, sorting, and manipulating data within SQL queries. Understanding various operators like arithmetic, comparison, and logical operators is essential for writing effective and efficient SQL queries.

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Description

Example H2

Example H3

SQL operators are fundamental to data manipulation in SQL. They allow you to perform various operations on data, including arithmetic calculations, comparisons, and logical evaluations. These operators are used in the WHERE clause to filter records, in ORDER BY clauses to sort results, and in expressions to combine or modify data. Different types of operators exist, each serving a specific purpose. Arithmetic operators perform mathematical calculations, comparison operators evaluate conditions, and logical operators combine conditions. Mastering these operators is key to crafting complex and powerful SQL queries.

Why SQL Operators is important

Operators are essential for filtering, sorting, and manipulating data in SQL. They enable you to extract specific information from a database and perform calculations on it. Without operators, SQL queries would be limited to retrieving all data, making them less useful for real-world applications.

SQL Operators Example Usage


-- Example table
CREATE TABLE Products (
    product_id INT PRIMARY KEY,
    price DECIMAL(10, 2)
);

INSERT INTO Products (product_id, price) VALUES
(1, 10.99),
(2, 25.50),
(3, 5.00),
(4, 12.75),
(5, 30.00);

-- Query to find products whose price has a remainder of 0 when divided by 5
SELECT product_id, price
FROM Products
WHERE price % 5 = 0;

SQL Operators Syntax

Common Mistakes

Incorrect use of operator precedence (e.g., performing arithmetic operations before comparisons).
Using the wrong comparison operator (e.g., using = instead of <>).
Forgetting to use parentheses for complex logical expressions.
Misunderstanding the behavior of NULL values in comparisons.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Which categories of SQL operators are essential for writing advanced queries?

The three core categories are arithmetic operators (e.g., +, -, *, /) for mathematical calculations, comparison operators (e.g., =, >, <, BETWEEN) for evaluating conditions, and logical operators (e.g., AND, OR, NOT) for combining multiple conditions. Mastering how each category works lets you craft advanced filtering, aggregation, and transformation logic in a single statement.

Where do SQL operators appear in a typical SELECT statement?

Operators surface in several clauses: the WHERE clause to filter rows, ORDER BY to sort results, and in expression lists or computed columns to manipulate data on the fly. For example, you might use arithmetic operators to calculate profit, comparison operators to check profit > 0, and logical operators to combine multiple profitability rules.

How does Galaxy’s AI-powered SQL editor accelerate work with operators?

Galaxy provides context-aware autocomplete and an AI copilot that recognizes when you're building expressions with arithmetic, comparison, or logical operators. It suggests correct syntax, warns about type mismatches, and can even rewrite queries when the schema changes—helping engineers apply SQL operators faster and with fewer errors.