I have seen SQL that uses both != and <> for not equal. What is the preferred syntax and why? I like !=, because <> reminds me of Visual Basic.

Apr 18, 2026 · The SQL NOT EQUAL operator compares two values and returns true if they are not equal. It’s used to filter out matching records in queries. If the values are equal, it returns false; if …

Apr 8, 2025 · In SQL Server, MySQL, and PostgreSQL, both <> and != are supported as valid operators for the not equal condition, with no performance difference between them. While both operators work …

SQL Operators SQL operators are keywords and symbols used to perform operations with data values. SQL operators are used in SQL statements like SELECT, WHERE, LIKE, etc. SQL operators is …

Oct 27, 2021 · Learn about writing TSQL statements using the not equal operator along with various examples of using not equals.

This article explores the SQL Not Equal comparison operator () along with its usage scenarios.

May 8, 2026 · Applies to: SQL Server Azure SQL Database Azure SQL Managed Instance Azure Synapse Analytics Analytics Platform System (PDW) SQL analytics endpoint in Microsoft Fabric …

Reference SQL command reference Query operators Comparison Comparison operators Comparison operators are used to test the equality of two input expressions. They are typically used in the …

Dec 10, 2024 · Unlock the power of SQL NOT EQUAL with our expert guide. Learn to refine data queries with practical examples and optimization tips for better analysis.

Note <> is the standard SQL notation for “not equal”. != is an alias, which is converted to <> at a very early stage of parsing. Hence, it is not possible to implement != and <> operators that do different …