SQL Boolean Column Default Value

Question

Someone gave me this code:

select * from table where is_active

Is the is_active column, despite not having been set to anything, set to TRUE by default? Does the above query mean this:

select * from table where is_active = TRUE

It appears so, but couldn't find anything in the PostgreSQL documentation, so just wanted to confirm.

both queries will return the same result. All expressions in the where will be checked if they're true :) — Jim Jones
– Jim Jones, Commented Dec 20, 2022 at 15:37
where clause expects a boolean (logical) expression. is_active is one itself. is_active = TRUE is the same but more or less a tautalogy. Same with not is_active and is_active = FALSE — Stefanov.sm
– Stefanov.sm, Commented Dec 20, 2022 at 15:37
It's here in the PostgreSQL docs: where condition is any expression that evaluates to a result of type boolean. .... see: link — Luuk
– Luuk, Commented Dec 20, 2022 at 17:30
Yes, but I was expecting "is_active = True" not just the column by itself. — Chicken Sandwich No Pickles
– Chicken Sandwich No Pickles, Commented Dec 20, 2022 at 18:04

Anubhav Sharma · Accepted Answer · 2022-12-20 15:57:48Z

1

Yes. You are right here. When the system looks at this query select * from table_name where col1>col2, it tries to find effective boolean expression after where clause, and ends up evaluating the expression to either true or false. But since the column value is already boolean so there is no need for that. select * from table where is_active is infact better. This is true for all SQL languages

answered Dec 20, 2022 at 15:57

Anubhav Sharma

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