SQL IIF is a conditional function that allows you to execute different statements based on a given condition. It's a concise way to perform conditional logic within SQL queries.
The SQL `IIF` function is a conditional expression that evaluates a Boolean expression and returns one value if the expression is true, and another value if it's false. It's a powerful tool for controlling the flow of your SQL queries, allowing you to tailor results based on specific conditions. Unlike full-blown `CASE` statements, `IIF` is often more concise for simple conditional logic. It's particularly useful for situations where you need to quickly assign values or filter data based on a single condition. For example, you might use `IIF` to flag records based on a certain status, or to assign different prices based on product categories. It's important to note that the `IIF` function is not universally supported across all SQL dialects. Some databases might use a different syntax or function for conditional logic.
The `IIF` function streamlines SQL queries by enabling concise conditional logic. This improves readability and maintainability, especially for simple conditional assignments. It's a valuable tool for developers working with SQL databases.
`IIF` shines when you need quick, single-condition logic inside a SELECT, UPDATE, or ORDER BY clause. Common examples include flagging records (e.g., IIF(status = 'inactive', 1, 0)
), assigning promotional prices based on product category, or creating on-the-fly labels for reporting dashboards. Because it’s more concise than a full CASE
statement, it keeps simple queries readable and easier to maintain.
No. `IIF` is available in SQL Server, MS Access, and a few other engines, but MySQL, PostgreSQL, and Snowflake rely on CASE
or dialect-specific functions instead. To stay portable you can: (1) rewrite the logic as CASE WHEN ... THEN ... ELSE ... END
, or (2) rely on a smart editor like Galaxy. Galaxy’s AI copilot can automatically suggest or convert IIF
to the equivalent syntax for your target database, so your team doesn’t have to maintain multiple code paths by hand.
Galaxy’s context-aware AI copilot understands conditional expressions. Type an IIF
snippet and it will autocomplete column names, catch syntax errors, and even propose a CASE
-based fallback if your workspace is connected to a database that doesn’t support IIF
. Once the query is solid, you can add it to a Galaxy Collection, endorse it for team reuse, and stop pasting SQL into Slack or Notion. The result: faster development cycles and fewer production errors.