mysql check value with null

Question

In mysql table real_account_id's data type is int(11). I want to fetch all records with NULL values.

I am using this simple query.

SELECT * FROM `customer_payment_options` WHERE real_account_id = NULL

But, it's not giving me any results. There are 2 records in database with NULL value. I also tried with,

SELECT * FROM `customer_payment_options` WHERE real_account_id = 'NULL'

Why is it like this? Thanks.

John Conde · Accepted Answer · 2014-07-11 19:19:47Z

7

NULL is equal to nothing including NULL. That's why you must use IS NULL:

SELECT * FROM `customer_payment_options` WHERE real_account_id IS NULL

answered Jul 11, 2014 at 19:19

John Conde

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2 Comments

Thanks. Is there any technical reason behind that? Because, comparing with NULL is the same thing

To tell you the truth I am not sure why this is. A maybe good explanation can be found here.