PGoCareerGoCareer prep tools
LoginSign up
  • Java
  • Python
  • AI
  • React
  • Angular
  • PHP
  • Node.js
  • SQL
  • DSA
  • HTML
  • CSS
  • JS
  • Spring
  • ML
  • MongoDB

SQL · Theory

POSITION()()

← All stacks

Theory

158/439

POSITION()()

POSITION() POSITION('a' IN name) — SQL form of locate. You use it in SELECT (and sometimes WHERE/UPDATE). It does not change stored data unless you UPDATE … SET col = POSITION(col).

Board: SELECT POSITION('a' IN 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). IN is part of the syntax here.

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

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

Exam tip

Say what POSITION returns, then SELECT POSITION('a' IN name) FROM students;

POSITION()() — sample query

-- POSITION()()
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;

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

Short notes

  • DefPOSITION() POSITION('a' IN name) — SQL form of locate.
  • RuleSELECT POSITION('a' IN name) FROM students;
  • TrapIN is part of the syntax here.

Questions

1

What does POSITION do?

2

Does it UPDATE the table?

158 / 439

P

GoCareerGo

Utilities · Preparation Hub · Resume · CV · Tools — one workspace.

Workspace

DashboardProfilePreparation HubResume builderCV builderCareer planning

PDF Tools

Merge PDFSplit PDFCompress PDFImage to PDFAll toolsJobs

Image & QR

Compress ImageResize ImageQR ScannerQR GeneratorBlogIT interview prep

Company

FAQFeedbackContactPrivacyTermsSitemap

© 2026 GoCareerGo. Keep moving forward.