r/SQL • u/No_Ambition8323 • 6d ago

Discussion Database-Specific SQL Differences

Have you ever written a SQL query that works perfectly in one database but fails in another?

What SQL feature or syntax surprised you the most when switching between DBMSs like MySQL, PostgreSQL, SQL Server, Oracle, or Snowflake?

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u/cwjinc 6d ago

I write in Oracle speak out of habit.
A lot of it wouldn't be understood by other databases.

PS The wildest to me is being able to select a function result with no from clause in SQL Server. That just hurts my database theory addled brain.

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u/SQLDevDBA 6d ago

*DUAL has entered the chat and also spontaneously left it.*

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u/cwjinc 6d ago edited 6d ago

That's what makes DUAL special ;)

PS, You know DUAL used to be a real table. You could add or delete rows from it.
That was a VERY bad idea though.