Sort by minimum value of two columns

Question

I use SQL Server 2008 R2.

I need to sort a table by the minimal value of two columns.

The table looks like this:

ID: integer; 
Date         


        

Answer 1

Use a CASE expression in the ORDER BY:

 ORDER BY case when date1 < date2 then date1 else date2 end

Edit:

If null values need to be considered, add coalesce():

 ORDER BY case when date1 < date2 then date1 else coalesce(date2,date1) end

Explanation:

If date1 < date2 then order by date1. (Both dates are non null here.) Works just like before.

Else use COALESCE() to order by date2 (when date2 is not null), or date1 (when date2 is null), or by null (if both dates are null.)