SQL: OR Condition

This SQL tutorial explains how to use the SQL OR condition with syntax and examples.

Description

The SQL OR condition is used to test multiple conditions in a SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, or DELETE statement. Any one of the conditions must be met for a record to be selected.

Syntax

The syntax for the OR condition in SQL is:

WHERE condition1
OR condition2
...
OR condition_n;

Parameters or Arguments

condition1, condition2, ... condition_n

Multiple conditions that will be tested for each record. Any condition can be met to be included in the result set.

DDL/DML for Examples

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Example - Using "OR" Condition with the SELECT Statement

Let's look at an example that shows how to use the OR condition in a SELECT statement to test for multiple conditions where any condition must be met for the records to be selected.

In this example, we have a table called suppliers with the following data:

Now let's demonstrate how to use the OR condition to test for 2 conditions. Enter the following SELECT statement:

Try It

SELECT *
FROM suppliers
WHERE city = 'Mountain View'
OR supplier_id = 100
ORDER BY supplier_name;

There will be 2 records selected. These are the results that you should see:

This example would return all suppliers that are in the city of Mountain View or have a supplier_id that is equal to 100. Because the * is used in the SELECT statement, all fields from the suppliers table would appear in the result set.

Example - Using "OR" Condition with the UPDATE Statement

The OR condition can be used in the SQL UPDATE statement to test for multiple conditions.

In this example, we have a table called customers with the following data:

Enter the following UPDATE statement:

Try It

UPDATE customers
SET favorite_website = 'techonthenet.com'
WHERE customer_id = 5000
OR last_name = 'Reynolds'
OR first_name = 'Paige';

There will be 3 records updated. Select the data from the customers table again:

SELECT * FROM customers;

These are the results that you should see:

This example would update all favorite_website values in the customers table to techonthenet.com where the customer_id is 5000 or the last_name is Reynolds or the first_name is Paige. As you can see, the favorite_website field in the 2nd, 4th and 5th rows are updated.

Example - Using "OR" Condition with the DELETE Statement

Next, let's see how to use the OR condition in the DELETE statement to test for any of the conditions to be met before a record is deleted.

In this example, we have a table called products with the following data:

Enter the following DELETE statement:

Try It

DELETE FROM products
WHERE product_name = 'Pear'
OR product_name = 'Apple'
OR category_id = 25;

There will be 3 records deleted. Select the data from the products table again:

SELECT * FROM products;

These are the results that you should see:

This condition example would delete all records from the products table where the product_name is Pear, the product_name is Apple or the category_id = 25.