Oracle CASE Statement

In Oracle Database, the CASE statement compares a list of conditions and returns one of multiple possible expressions.

Oracle Database’s CASE statement is very similar to the CASE expression (which is defined in the SQL standard (ISO/IEC 9075)). However, Oracle supports both the CASE expression and the CASE statement, and there’s a distinction between the two. The CASE statement can be used to execute of a sequence of PL/SQL statements, whereas the CASE expression returns a single value. Also, there’s a difference in how they deal with the lack of an ELSE clause when a condition is not met.

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How to Create a Generated Column in PostgreSQL

In PostgreSQL, a generated column is a special column that is always computed from other columns. A generated column doesn’t have a fixed value like in a base column. Rather, its value is determined by an expression that references other columns in the table.

Generated columns are included in the SQL standard (ISO/IEC 9075), and are supported by most major RDBMSs. Generated columns were first introduced in PostgreSQL 12.

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2 Ways to Get the Definition of a Generated Column in MySQL

A generated column is one whose value is derived from an expression, as opposed to a fixed value. The expression typically uses other columns in the same table to compute the derived value.

We can create a generated column in MySQL very easily. But what if we want to go back later and see its definition?

Here are two options for returning the definition of a generated column in MySQL.

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Oracle CASE Expression

In Oracle Database, the CASE expression compares a list of conditions and returns one of multiple possible expressions. It allows us to use IF … THEN … ELSE logic in SQL statements without having to invoke procedures.

The CASE expression is included in the SQL standard (ISO/IEC 9075), and most major RDBMSs support it.

Oracle also has a CASE statement that’s very similar to the CASE expression, but with some minor differences.

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Create a Generated Column in MySQL

This article contains an example of adding a generated column to a table in MySQL.

Also known as computed columns, generated columns usually contain values that are dependent on other factors (such as the values in other columns).

Creating (or adding) a generated column in MySQL is basically the same as creating a normal column, except that the definition of the generated column contains an expression that determines the column’s value.

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