SQL · Theory

OCT()()

Theory

156/439

OCT()()

OCT() is a MySQL string function — it takes text and returns text or a number. You use it in SELECT (and sometimes WHERE/UPDATE). It does not change stored data unless you UPDATE … SET col = OCT(col).

Board: SELECT OCT(name) FROM students; Run it. Say the result out loud. If the column is NULL, the result is often NULL — wrap with IFNULL if you need a blank instead.

String indexes in MySQL start at 1, not 0 (SUBSTR, INSTR, LEFT). NULL input often yields NULL. Try it on one row first.

Interview — name OCT, one argument list, one example on the students table. Don’t recite every string function.

On the example next to this theory: OCT()(): create two demo rows, then SELECT qty >= 2 ordered. Say which labels come back.

Exam tip

Say what OCT returns, then SELECT OCT(name) FROM students;

OCT()() — sample query

-- OCT()()
CREATE TABLE demo (
  id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY,
  label TEXT NOT NULL,
  qty INTEGER DEFAULT 0
);
INSERT INTO demo (id, label, qty) VALUES
  (1, 'alpha', 2),
  (2, 'beta', 5);
SELECT label, qty FROM demo WHERE qty >= 2 ORDER BY qty DESC;

OCT()(): create two demo rows, then SELECT qty >= 2 ordered. Say which labels come back.

Short notes

DefOCT() is a MySQL string function — it takes text and returns text or a number.
RuleSELECT OCT(name) FROM students;
TrapNULL input often yields NULL. Try it on one row first.

SQL · Theory

OCT()()

← All stacks

Theory

156/439

OCT()()

Board: SELECT OCT(name) FROM students; Run it. Say the result out loud. If the column is NULL, the result is often NULL — wrap with IFNULL if you need a blank instead.

String indexes in MySQL start at 1, not 0 (SUBSTR, INSTR, LEFT). NULL input often yields NULL. Try it on one row first.

Interview — name OCT, one argument list, one example on the students table. Don’t recite every string function.

On the example next to this theory: OCT()(): create two demo rows, then SELECT qty >= 2 ordered. Say which labels come back.

Exam tip

Say what OCT returns, then SELECT OCT(name) FROM students;

OCT()() — sample query

-- OCT()()
CREATE TABLE demo (
  id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY,
  label TEXT NOT NULL,
  qty INTEGER DEFAULT 0
);
INSERT INTO demo (id, label, qty) VALUES
  (1, 'alpha', 2),
  (2, 'beta', 5);
SELECT label, qty FROM demo WHERE qty >= 2 ORDER BY qty DESC;

OCT()(): create two demo rows, then SELECT qty >= 2 ordered. Say which labels come back.

Short notes

DefOCT() is a MySQL string function — it takes text and returns text or a number.
RuleSELECT OCT(name) FROM students;
TrapNULL input often yields NULL. Try it on one row first.

OCT()()

OCT()() — sample query

Short notes

Questions

OCT()()

OCT()() — sample query

Short notes

Questions