COALESCE function returns first non-NULL expression.

Syntax:

COALESCE(expr1, expr2 [, expr3, ...]); 

Parameters:

Notes:

• When first non-NULL expression is found the following expressions are not evaluated
• COALESCE and NVL functions are synonyms

Return Value:

• First non-NULL expression
• NULL if all expressions evaluate to NULL

Return Type:

The data type of first non-NULL expression.

Example 1:

COALESCE(NULL, 1, 2, 3); 

Result: 1

Compatibility: Oracle, IBM DB2, Teradata, Microsoft SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MySQL and Netezza

Version: PL/HQL 0.03

See also:

• NVL