MySQL TO_NUMBER Function: A Comprehensive Guide
When working with numeric values in MySQL, you may come across the need to convert a non-numeric value to a number. The TO_NUMBER
function in MySQL allows you to do just that. In this article, we will explore the syntax and usage of the TO_NUMBER
function, along with some examples to illustrate its functionality.
Syntax of TO_NUMBER Function
The syntax of the TO_NUMBER
function in MySQL is as follows:
TO_NUMBER(expression)
Where expression
is the value that you want to convert to a number.
Examples of TO_NUMBER Function
Let's look at some examples to understand how the TO_NUMBER
function works:
Example 1: Converting a String to a Number
In this example, we will convert a string value to a number using the TO_NUMBER
function:
SELECT TO_NUMBER('123') AS number;
The output of this query will be:
number
123
Example 2: Handling Non-Numeric Values
If the expression passed to the TO_NUMBER
function is not a valid number, MySQL will return a NULL
value. For example:
SELECT TO_NUMBER('abc') AS number;
The output of this query will be:
number
NULL
Example 3: Converting NULL Values
If the expression passed to the TO_NUMBER
function is NULL
, the function will return NULL
. For example:
SELECT TO_NUMBER(NULL) AS number;
The output of this query will be:
number
NULL
Class Diagram
Below is a class diagram illustrating the TO_NUMBER
function in MySQL:
classDiagram
TO_NUMBER --|> expression
Conclusion
In this article, we have explored the TO_NUMBER
function in MySQL, which allows you to convert non-numeric values to numbers. We have discussed the syntax and usage of the function, along with some examples to demonstrate its functionality. By using the TO_NUMBER
function, you can handle non-numeric values more effectively in your MySQL queries.