SQL Reference Guide > SQL Reference Guide > Understanding the Elements of SQL Statements > Subqueries > Subqueries in the Target List, SET and VALUE Clauses (Scalar Subqueries)
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Subqueries in the Target List, SET and VALUE Clauses (Scalar Subqueries)
Scalar subqueries (see Scalar Subqueries) allow for the result of a query to be used in other expression contexts such as in the target list, as in the examples below.
Example query using target list scalar subquery:
SELECT s.i,(SELECT p.j FROM ptbl p WHERE s.i=p.i) FROM stbl s
Example UPDATEs using a scalar subquery in the SET clause:
UPDATE stbl s SET s.j=(SELECT p.i FROM ptbl p WHERE s.i=p.i)
UPDATE stbl s SET s.i = (SELECT p.i FROM ptbl p WHERE s.i=p.i) WHERE (SELECT p.i FROM ptbl p WHERE s.i=p.i) IS NOT NULL;
Example INSERT using a scalar subquery in the VALUES clause:
Only non-correlated subquery in an INSERT VALUES clause.
INSERT INTO stbl (I, j)
       VALUES ( (SELECT MAX(p.i) FROM ptbl p, stbl s WHERE s.i = p.i ), 1);
Note:  In the INSERT VALUES clause there is no outer row to correlate between the table into which rows are being inserted and the tables in the VALUES clause.
Last modified date: 11/09/2022