whereNull vs where('column', null)

So in mysql a null column comparison like column = NULL will never return true. How about when you are using eloquent? Is ->whereNull('column') equivalent to doing ->where('column', null)?

gcwilliams

9 years ago

Best Answer

Level 15

They are not the same.

whereNull('column')

translates to

where column is null

where('column', null)

translates to

where column = null

According to the mysql documentation (http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.7/en/working-with-null.html)

You cannot use arithmetic comparison operators such as =, <, or <> to test for NULL.

6 likes

NielsNumbers

7 years ago

Level 10

Maybe this has changed in Laravl 5.6, but

where('column', '=' ,null);

actually resolves to

where column is null

and thus both are the same.

1 like

PierreZA

5 years ago

Level 4

works

1 like

mnengwa

4 years ago

Level 1

@PierreZA can confirm from laravel "^8.40"

    /**
     * Set a "where" constraint on the query.
     *
     * @param  \Closure|string  $column
     * @param  array|string|int|null  $value
     * @return $this
     */
    public function where($column, $value = null)
    {
        if (is_array($value)) {
            return $this->whereIn($column, $value);
        }

        if ($column instanceof Closure) {
            return $this->using($column);
        }

        if (is_null($value)) {
            return $this->whereNull($column);
        }

        $this->wheres[] = compact('column', 'value');

        return $this;
    }

1 like

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