SQL condition OR

SQL condition OR is used to check several conditions in SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE or DELETE. Any of the conditions must be met to select a record.

Syntax for SQL condition OR

WHERE cond1
OR cond2
…
OR cond_n;

where:

• cond1, cond2, … cond_n – Several conditions to be checked for each record. Any condition can be met to be included in the result set

Using OR condition with SELECT operator

Let’s look at an example that shows how to use an OR condition in a SELECT statement to check multiple conditions when any condition must be met for the records to be selected.

In this example, we have a table with the following data:

Now let’s demonstrate how to use the OR condition to test two conditions. Enter the following SELECT operator.

SELECT *
FROM suppls
WHERE city_id = 'Lansing'.
OR suppl_id = 100
ORDER BY suppl_name;

Two entries will be selected. Here are the results that you should get.

In this example, all suppliers that are in the city of Lansing or have a suppl_id equal to 100 are returned. Since * is used in the SELECT operator, all fields from the supplier table will appear in the result set.

Using OR condition with UPDATE operator

SQL condition OR can be used in UPDATE SQL statement to check several conditions.

In this example, we have a table with the following data:

Enter the following UPDATE request.

UPDATE customs
SET fav_website = 'Google.com'.
WHERE custom_id = 5000
OR l_name = 'Cruise'.
OR f_name = 'Johnny';

3 records will be updated. Select data from the customers table again.

SELECT *
FROM customs;

Here are the results you should get.

In this example, all favourite_website values in the customers table will be updated to google.com, where custom_id is 5000 or l_name is ‘Cruise’ or f_name is ‘Johnny’. As you can see, fav_website field on the 2nd, 4th and 5th lines has been updated.

Using condition OR with DELETE operator

Now let’s look at how to use the OR condition in a DELETE statement to check any of the conditions that must be met before a record is deleted.

In this example we have a product table with the following data:

Enter the following DELETE operator.

DELETE FROM prods
WHERE prod_name = 'Pear'
OR prod_name = 'Apple'
OR cat_id = 25;

Three entries will be deleted. Select the data from the products table again.

SELECT *
FROM prods;

here are the results you should get.

In this example, all entries from the products table, where prod_name is Pear, prod_name is Apple or cat_id =25, will be removed.

How to use the AND Condition with the OR Condition in SQL