What are the Set Operators in SQL?
Tags: sql
Published: 2023-07-05 04:50:48

Set operators in SQL are used to combine the results of multiple SELECT statements into a single result set. These operators allow you to perform set operations, such as union, intersection, and difference, on the data retrieved from database tables.
Sure! 

In SQL, set operators are used to combine the results of SELECT statements into a single result set. The main set operators are UNION, UNION ALL, INTERSECT, and EXCEPT (or MINUS). The UNION operator merges the results of two SELECT statements, removing duplicate rows. UNION ALL, on the other hand, combines the results without removing duplicates.

 The INTERSECT operator returns the common rows between two result sets, while the EXCEPT operator subtracts the rows from the second result set that exist in the first result set. These set operators provide flexibility in manipulating and analyzing data from multiple tables or queries in SQL, enabling powerful operations on the retrieved data. By obtaining [SQL Certification](https://www.edureka.co/microsoft-sql-server-certification-training), you can advance your career in the field of SQL Servers. With this Certification, you can demonstrate your expertise in working with SQL concepts, including querying data, security, and administrative privileges, among others. This can open up new job opportunities and enable you to take on leadership roles in your organization.

**Here's a paragraph summarizing the information about set operators in SQL:**

**1. UNION:**
The UNION operator combines the result sets of two or more SELECT statements into a single result set. It removes duplicate rows from the final result. The SELECT statements involved in the UNION operator must have the same number of columns, and the corresponding columns must have compatible data types. The UNION operator works by vertically stacking the result sets of the SELECT statements, aligning the columns based on their positions. Duplicate rows are eliminated, resulting in a unified result set.

**For example, consider two SELECT statements:**
```
SELECT column1, column2
FROM table1
UNION
SELECT column1, column2
FROM table2;
```
The UNION operator combines the results of these SELECT statements, merging rows from both tables and removing duplicates.

**2. UNION ALL:**
The UNION ALL operator also combines the result sets of two or more SELECT statements into a single result set. However, unlike the UNION operator, it does not eliminate duplicate rows. It simply concatenates the rows from the SELECT statements, resulting in a combined result set that may contain duplicate rows.

**The syntax for UNION ALL is similar to UNION:**
```
SELECT column1, column2
FROM table1
UNION ALL
SELECT column1, column2
FROM table2;
```
This operator is useful when you want to combine the results without removing duplicates.

**3. INTERSECT:**
The INTERSECT operator returns the common rows between the result sets of two SELECT statements. It only includes rows that exist in both result sets. The SELECT statements used with the INTERSECT operator must have the same number of columns and compatible data types. The resulting set will contain only the rows that are present in both SELECT statements.

**For example:**
```
SELECT column1, column2
FROM table1
INTERSECT
SELECT column1, column2
FROM table2;
```
The INTERSECT operator compares the result sets of the SELECT statements and returns the rows that are common to both tables.

**4. EXCEPT or MINUS:**
The EXCEPT (or MINUS) operator returns the rows that exist in the result set of the first SELECT statement but not in the result set of the second SELECT statement. It subtracts the rows of the second result set from the first result set. Both SELECT statements used with the EXCEPT operator must have the same number of columns and compatible data types.

**For example:**
```
SELECT column1, column2
FROM table1
EXCEPT
SELECT column1, column2
FROM table2;
```
The EXCEPT operator compares the result sets of the SELECT statements and returns the rows that are present in the first result set but not in the second.

These set operators provide powerful capabilities for manipulating and combining data from multiple tables or queries in SQL. By using these operators, you can perform operations like merging results, finding common elements, and identifying differences in data sets. They offer a flexible way to analyze and retrieve data in various scenarios, enabling efficient and effective data manipulation in SQL.