NVL2

Syntax
Description of nvl2.gif follows
Description of the illustration nvl2.gif
Purpose
NVL2 lets you determine the value returned by a query based on whether a specifi
ed expression is null or not null. If expr1 is not null, then NVL2 returns expr2
. If expr1 is null, then NVL2 returns expr3.
The argument expr1 can have any datatype. The arguments expr2 and expr3 can have
any datatypes except LONG.
If the datatypes of expr2 and expr3 are different:
If expr2 is character data, then Oracle Database converts expr3 to the datatype
of expr2 before comparing them unless expr3 is a null constant. In that case, a
datatype conversion is not necessary. Oracle returns VARCHAR2 in the character s
et of expr2.
If expr2 is numeric, then Oracle determines which argument has the highest numer
ic precedence, implicitly converts the other argument to that datatype, and retu
rns that datatype.
See Also:
Table 2-10, "Implicit Type Conversion Matrix" for more information on implicit c
onversion and "Numeric Precedence" for information on numeric precedence
Examples
The following example shows whether the income of some employees is made up of s
alary plus commission, or just salary, depending on whether the commission_pct c
olumn of employees is null or not.
SELECT last_name, salary, NVL2(commission_pct,
salary + (salary * commission_pct), salary) income
FROM employees WHERE last_name like 'B%'
ORDER BY last_name;
LAST_NAME
SALARY
INCOME
------------------------- ---------- ---------Baer
10000
10000
Baida
2900
2900
Banda
6200
6882
Bates
7300
8468
Bell
4000
4000
Bernstein
9500
11970
Bissot
3300
3300
Bloom
10000
12100
Bull
4100
4100