MySQL Null Functions – IS NULL, COALESCE, IFNULL, and NULLIF Explained

Introduction – Why Handle NULLs in MySQL?

In databases, NULL does not mean zero or empty—it means unknown or missing. Improper handling of NULL values can lead to unexpected results, failed comparisons, broken reports, and even corrupted logic.

MySQL provides specialized NULL functions to handle these cases safely and effectively. Mastering them ensures your queries are reliable, logical, and null-safe.

In this guide, you’ll learn:

• What NULL means in MySQL
• How to check and compare NULL values
• Functions to replace or handle NULL gracefully
• Practical examples and best practices

Understanding NULL in MySQL

• NULL represents an unknown or missing value
• Comparisons using = or <> with NULL always return false or unknown
• Use special functions and expressions to check or transform NULLs

Key MySQL NULL Functions

1️⃣ IS NULL – Check if a Value is NULL

SELECT * FROM users WHERE email IS NULL;

Returns rows where the email column has no value.

2️⃣ IS NOT NULL – Check if Not NULL

SELECT * FROM users WHERE phone IS NOT NULL;

Returns rows with a valid phone number.

3️⃣ IFNULL(expr1, expr2) – Replace NULL with a Value

SELECT IFNULL(address, 'Not Provided') AS safe_address FROM customers;

If address is NULL, returns 'Not Provided' instead.

4️⃣ COALESCE(expr1, expr2, ..., exprN) – Return First Non-NULL Value

SELECT COALESCE(phone, alternate_phone, 'N/A') FROM contacts;

Returns the first non-NULL value from left to right.

5️⃣ NULLIF(expr1, expr2) – Returns NULL if Both Are Equal

SELECT NULLIF(quantity, 0) FROM stock;

Returns NULL if quantity = 0, otherwise returns the quantity.

Practical Examples

Format NULL Display in Reports

SELECT name, IFNULL(department, 'Unassigned') AS dept
FROM employees;

Fallback with COALESCE

SELECT COALESCE(home_phone, mobile_phone, 'No Contact') AS primary_contact
FROM clients;

Avoid Division by Zero with NULLIF

SELECT revenue / NULLIF(units_sold, 0) AS avg_price
FROM sales;

Prevents division by zero by returning NULL instead.

Common Mistakes with NULL

Best Practices for NULL Handling

Real-World Use Cases

Summary – Recap & Next Steps

MySQL’s NULL functions allow you to check, convert, and handle unknown values safely. Whether you’re formatting reports, calculating values, or filtering results, using these functions ensures your SQL is null-tolerant and production-ready.

Key Takeaways

• Use IS NULL / IS NOT NULL to detect missing values
• Use IFNULL() or COALESCE() to provide fallback defaults
• Use NULLIF() to guard against divide-by-zero and equality logic
• Always consider NULL behavior when comparing or calculating

Real-World Relevance

NULL-safe operations are essential in form validation, reporting dashboards, auditing systems, calculations, and data migrations.

FAQ – MySQL NULL Functions

What’s the difference between IFNULL() and COALESCE()?

IFNULL() only accepts two arguments,
COALESCE() supports multiple fallback values.

Does = NULL work in SQL?

No. Always use:

WHERE column IS NULL

Can I use NULL in CASE statements?

Yes, but use care:

CASE
  WHEN score IS NULL THEN 'No Score'
  ELSE score
END

Do aggregate functions ignore NULLs?

Yes. Functions like SUM(), AVG(), COUNT(column) ignore NULL values.

How to safely divide in SQL?

Use:

SELECT value / NULLIF(divisor, 0);