Many of us who work with SQL databases have used the VALUES keyword with the INSERT statement when inserting data into a database.
But perhaps a lesser known fact is that some RDBMSs allow us to use VALUES as a stand alone SQL statement. PostgreSQL is one such RDBMS.
When used as a stand alone statement, we can use a VALUES statement instead of a SELECT statement.
SQL Server 2022 introduced a bunch of new bit manipulation functions and operators. Amongst these are the right shift and left shift operators.
The right shift and left shift operators can be used to shift bits to the left or right. Given an integer or binary expression, these operators can shift bits by the amount that we specify.
Continue readingIn SQL Server, we can use the GET_BIT() function to return the bit from the specified location in a value. We pass the value as either an integer or binary expression.
The function accepts two arguments; the expression, and the offset. The function then returns the bit from the given offset in the expression.
Continue readingMySQL 8.0.19 introduced the VALUES DML statement, which is a table constructor that can be used as a stand alone SQL statement.
This is not to be confused with the VALUES keyword that’s used with the INSERT or REPLACE statements when inserting data (although it can be used for that purpose too). It also shouldn’t be confused with the VALUES() function that’s used with INSERT … ON DUPLICATE KEY UPDATE statements.
In SQL Server, the BIT_COUNT() function returns the number of bits set to 1 in the given argument, based on the binary equivalent of that argument.
Different values will have a different number of 1s in their binary value. Also, the same value can have a different number of 1s, depending on the data type.
Continue readingSQL Server 2022 introduced the SET_BIT() function that sets a bit in an integer or binary value (other than a large object).
The function allows us to specify an offset for which to set a bit to 1 or 0.
Many RDBMSs support the concept of named windows – windows that we can reference from within an OVER clause when defining a window function.
For those of us using SQL Server, we had to wait until the release of SQL Server 2022 before we could create named windows for our window functions. But with the release of SQL Server 2022, we now have the option of using named windows in our window functions.
Continue readingIn SQL Server, RIGHT_SHIFT() is a bit manipulation function that returns the first argument bit-shifted right by the number of bits specified in the second argument.
The RIGHT_SHIFT() function was introduced in SQL Server 2022.
In SQL Server, LEFT_SHIFT() is a bit manipulation function that returns the first argument bit-shifted left by the number of bits specified in the second argument.
The LEFT_SHIFT() function was introduced in SQL Server 2022.
SQL Server 2022 introduced the GREATEST() function that returns the maximum value from a list of values. You may be thinking, “but there’s already a MAX() function that returns the maximum value, so why the need for another function that does the same thing?”.
Well here’s the thing – they don’t do the same thing. They’re actually quite different functions, used in different scenarios.
If you’re wondering what the difference is between the MAX() and GREATEST() functions, read on to find out.