NULLIF | PostgreSQL Tutorial

NULLIF in Conditional Expressions & Operators helps you write SQL that is easier to test, review, and operate at scale.

Introduction to NULLIF

Use NULLIF to express branching and NULL-handling logic directly in SQL.

Commonly paired with: SELECT, FROM, WHERE, WITH.

Practical examples with NULLIF in PostgreSQL

Reference pattern: start from canonical syntax and keep it explicit.

SELECT NULLIF(trim(referral_code), '') AS referral_code
FROM signups;

Production-style scenario: apply the same concept to realistic application data.

SELECT
  o.order_id,
  o.total_amount,
  o.placed_at
FROM orders o
WHERE o.placed_at >= now() - interval '30 days'
ORDER BY o.placed_at DESC
LIMIT 50;

Additional example: use a variation to validate behavior and edge cases.

SELECT current_database(), current_user, now();

Production tips

Prefer explicit column lists and deterministic ordering when results feed APIs or batch jobs.
Validate plans with EXPLAIN before adding indexes, then re-check after schema changes.
Keep DDL, data backfills, and cleanups in transactions when possible to avoid partial state.
Use isolated environments for risky changes so query tuning and schema experiments stay safe.

Vela workflow tip

Test this pattern in an isolated branch database, share the result with your team, and promote only after query plans and row counts look correct.

Reference: PostgreSQL official documentation.