MySQL IN

The MySQL IN operator is used to specify a list of values for matching against a specific column in a WHERE clause. It is often used to filter rows where a column’s value matches any of the specified values in the list. The IN operator simplifies queries that involve multiple OR conditions.

The basic syntax of the IN operator is as follows:

SELECT columns
FROM table
WHERE column_name IN (value1, value2, ...);

Here’s how it works:

• column_name is the name of the column you want to compare against.
• value1, value2, etc., are the values you want to match against.

Here are some examples to illustrate the use of the IN operator:

1. Match all records where the category is either “Electronics” or “Appliances”:

   SELECT *
   FROM products
   WHERE category IN ('Electronics', 'Appliances');

2. Match all records where the customer_id is any of the specified values:

   SELECT *
   FROM orders
   WHERE customer_id IN (101, 102, 103, 104);

3. Match all records where the state is any of the specified U.S. states:

   SELECT *
   FROM customers
   WHERE state IN ('NY', 'CA', 'TX', 'FL');

The IN operator provides a concise way to filter rows based on multiple values without having to use a series of OR conditions. It’s especially useful when you want to match against a predefined list of values.

Keep in mind that the list of values enclosed in parentheses after the IN operator can be a static list of values, or it can be a subquery that retrieves a list of values dynamically based on some other condition. This makes the IN operator a versatile tool for filtering and retrieving data from the database.