Tired of static SQL queries? Unleash the power of conditional logic with the IF THEN ELSE statement! While SQL doesn't have a direct IF THEN ELSE construct *exactly* like procedural languages, it offers several ways to achieve the same effect. The most common is the `CASE` statement.
Think of `CASE` as your SQL interpreter's way of making decisions. It lets you define conditions and specify different results based on whether those conditions are true or false. For example:
`SELECT product_name, CASE WHEN price > 100 THEN 'Expensive' ELSE 'Affordable' END AS price_category FROM products;`
This snippet categorizes products as 'Expensive' or 'Affordable' based on their price. `CASE` statements can handle multiple `WHEN` conditions, an `ELSE` for a default value, and are invaluable for creating dynamic reports, data transformations, and complex data analysis. Start using `CASE` today and elevate your SQL skills!
