The methods for declaring and using variables in SQL are as follows: 1. Declaring variables requires specifying the name and data type, such as DECLARE @age INT; 2. Assign values using SET or SELECT INTO, such as SET @age = 30; or SELECT age INTO @age FROM users WHERE id = 1; 3. Use variables to filter or calculate in queries, such as SELECT * FROM users WHERE age > @age; 4. Variables are usually session scoped and are not applicable to all contexts, such as views or triggers.
In SQL, variables are used to temporarily store data that can be used in queries, stored procedures, or scripts. Declaring and using a variable depends slightly on the SQL dialect you're working with (like SQL Server, MySQL, PostgreSQL), but the general idea is similar across most systems.

Here's how you typically handle variables in SQL:

Declaring a Variable
Before using a variable, you need to declare it with a name and a data type. In most SQL dialects, the syntax looks something like this:
DECLARE @variable_name datatype;
For example, in SQL Server:

DECLARE @age INT;
In MySQL, you'd use SET
or SELECT INTO
after declaring:
SET @age = 30;
Some databases like PostgreSQL use %TYPE
or specific types and might require DO $$ BEGIN ... END $$;
blocks for anonymous code.
Important note: Some SQL environments only allow variable declarations at the beginning of a block, so placement matters.
Assigning a Value to a Variable
Once declared, you can assign a value using either SET
or SELECT INTO
.
Using
SET
:SET @age = 25;
This is straightforward and works well when assigning literal values.
Using
SELECT INTO
:SELECT age INTO @age FROM users WHERE id = 1;
Useful when pulling values from a table dynamically.
If multiple rows are returned by the SELECT
, some systems will throw an error — so make sure your query returns exactly one row.
Using the Variable in Queries
After setting the variable, you can use it wherever appropriate in your SQL script.
For example, filtering results based on a variable:
SELECT * FROM users WHERE age > @age;
Or using it in calculations:
SELECT name, salary (@age * 100) AS adjusted_salary FROM employees;
Variables are especially helpful in stored procedures or loops where you want to reuse a computed or passed-in value without hardcoding it.
Scope and Limitations
- Variables are usually session-scoped , meaning they're not shared between connections.
- They often don't persist beyond the current script or procedure.
- Some databases don't support variables in certain contexts like views or triggers.
Also, keep in mind:
- Use semicolons if required by your SQL dialect (eg, MySQL).
- Double-check naming conventions — SQL Server uses
@
, while MySQL also supports@
but may require session variables in some cases.
That's basically how you declare and work with variables in SQL. It's not complicated once you know the syntax for your specific database system.
The above is the detailed content of How do you declare and use a variable in a SQL script?. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!

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