MySQL returning an empty field: CONCAT(nonEmpty1,empty2,nonEmpty3) = NULL

Question

I have PHP 5 code accessing a MyISAM table on MySQL 5 server. The query looks like this:

SELECT CONCAT(fName1,\' \',mName2,\' \',lName3) AS userName 
    FROM us         


        

Answer 1

From MYSQL docs

CONCAT() returns NULL if any argument is NULL.

you want to use CONCAT_WS()

CONCAT_WS(separator,str1,str2,...)

But best bet is to just pull it back and use php cause if you need a different format or just one of those fields later you'll have to make another db call