How to use the IN operator in MySQL?
The IN operator in MySQL checks if a value matches any in a specified list, simplifying multiple OR conditions; it works with literals, strings, dates, and subqueries, improves query readability, performs well on indexed columns, supports NOT IN (with caution for NULLs), and can be combined with other conditions, making it essential for efficient filtering in SQL queries.
The IN
operator in MySQL is used to check whether a value matches any value in a list. It's a convenient way to replace multiple OR
conditions in a WHERE
clause. Here's how to use it effectively.
Basic Syntax
SELECT column_name(s) FROM table_name WHERE column_name IN (value1, value2, ...);
This is equivalent to:
WHERE column_name = value1 OR column_name = value2 OR ...
1. Filtering with a List of Values
You can use IN
to retrieve rows where a column matches any of several specified values.
SELECT * FROM employees WHERE department_id IN (1, 3, 5);
This selects all employees who work in departments 1, 3, or 5 — much cleaner than writing three separate OR
conditions.
2. Using Strings and Dates
The IN
operator works with any data type, including strings and dates.
SELECT * FROM customers WHERE country IN ('USA', 'Canada', 'Mexico');
SELECT * FROM orders WHERE order_date IN ('2023-09-01', '2023-09-02', '2023-09-03');
Just make sure to use quotes for strings and date values.
3. Using NOT IN to Exclude Values
To find records that do not match any value in the list, use NOT IN
.
SELECT * FROM products WHERE category_id NOT IN (2, 4);
This returns products not in category 2 or 4.
⚠️ Be careful with
NOT IN
when the list containsNULL
. If any value in theIN
list isNULL
,NOT IN
may return no results because comparisons withNULL
yieldUNKNOWN
in SQL logic.
4. Using Subqueries with IN
One of the most powerful uses of IN
is with a subquery.
SELECT * FROM customers WHERE customer_id IN (SELECT customer_id FROM orders WHERE amount > 1000);
This finds all customers who have placed at least one order over $1000.
The subquery runs first, returns a list of customer IDs, and the outer query uses IN
to match them.
Key Points to Remember
- The
IN
operator improves readability and reduces code length compared to multipleOR
conditions. - It’s case-insensitive for strings in most MySQL collations (like
utf8mb4_general_ci
), but this depends on your column’s collation setting. - Performance is generally good, especially when the column is indexed. For very large lists, consider using a temporary table or
JOIN
. - Avoid
NOT IN
with nullable columns or subqueries that might returnNULL
— useNOT EXISTS
instead in such cases for safer results.
Example: Combining IN with Other Conditions
SELECT name, salary FROM employees WHERE department_id IN (1, 2) AND salary > 50000;
This shows employees in departments 1 or 2 who earn more than $50,000.
Basically, IN
simplifies filtering by a set of values — whether literal values or from a subquery — and is a staple in everyday MySQL querying.
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