SQL NOT Operator

The NOT operator is used in combination with other operators to give the opposite result, also called the negative result.

In the select statement below we want to return all customers that are NOT from Spain:

Example​

Select only the customers that are NOT from Spain:

SELECT \* FROM Customers  
WHERE NOT Country = 'Spain';

In the example above, the NOT operator is used in combination with the = operator, but it can be used in combination with other comparison and/or logical operators. See examples below.

Video Explanation​

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Syntax​

SELECT _column1_, _column2, ..._ FROM _table_name_ WHERE NOT _condition_;

Demo Database​

Below is a selection from the Customers table used in the examples:

NOT LIKE​

Example​

Select customers that does not start with the letter 'A':

SELECT \* FROM Customers  
WHERE CustomerName NOT LIKE 'A%';

NOT BETWEEN​

Example​

Select customers with a customerID not between 10 and 60:

SELECT \* FROM Customers  
WHERE CustomerID NOT BETWEEN 10 AND 60;

NOT IN​

Example​

Select customers that are not from Paris or London:

SELECT \* FROM Customers  
WHERE City NOT IN ('Paris', 'London');

NOT Greater Than​

Example​

Select customers with a CustomerId not greater than 50:

SELECT \* FROM Customers  
WHERE NOT CustomerID > 50;

Note: There is a not-greater-than operator: !> that would give you the same result.

NOT Less Than​

Example​

Select customers with a CustomerID not less than 50:

SELECT \* FROM Customers  
WHERE NOT CustomerId < 50;

Note: There is a not-less-than operator: !< that would give you the same result.