I am wondering if there is any difference in regards to performance between the following
SELECT ... FROM ... WHERE someFIELD IN(1,2,3,4)
SELECT ... FROM ..
Below are details of 6 queries using MySQL 5.6 @SQLFiddle
In summary the 6 queries cover independently indexed columns and 2 queries were used per data type. All queries resulted in use of an index regardless of IN() or ORs being used.
| ORs | IN()
integer | uses index | uses index
date | uses index | uses index
varchar | uses index | uses index
I really just wanted to debunk statements made that OR means no index can be used. This isn't true. Indexes can be used in queries using OR as the 6 queries in the following examples display.
Also it seems to me that many have ignored the fact that IN() is a syntax shortcut for a set of ORs. At small scale perfomance differences between using IN() -v- OR are extremely (infintessinally) marginal.
While at larger scale IN() is certainly more convenient, but it sill equates to a set of OR conditions logically. Circumstance change for each query so testing your query on your tables is always best.
Summary of the 6 explain plans, all "Using index condition" (scroll right)
Query select_type table type possible_keys key key_len ref rows filtered Extra
------------- --------- ------- --------------- ----------- --------- ----- ------ ---------- -----------------------
Integers using OR SIMPLE mytable range aNum_idx aNum_idx 4 10 100.00 Using index condition
Integers using IN SIMPLE mytable range aNum_idx aNum_idx 4 10 100.00 Using index condition
Dates using OR SIMPLE mytable range aDate_idx aDate_idx 6 7 100.00 Using index condition
Dates using IN SIMPLE mytable range aDate_idx aDate_idx 6 7 100.00 Using index condition
Varchar using OR SIMPLE mytable range aName_idx aName_idx 768 10 100.00 Using index condition
Varchar using IN SIMPLE mytable range aName_idx aName_idx 768 10 100.00 Using index condition
SQL Fiddle
MySQL 5.6 Schema Setup:
CREATE TABLE `myTable` (
`id` mediumint(8) unsigned NOT NULL auto_increment,
`aName` varchar(255) default NULL,
`aDate` datetime,
`aNum` mediumint(8),
PRIMARY KEY (`id`)
) AUTO_INCREMENT=1;
ALTER TABLE `myTable` ADD INDEX `aName_idx` (`aName`);
ALTER TABLE `myTable` ADD INDEX `aDate_idx` (`aDate`);
ALTER TABLE `myTable` ADD INDEX `aNum_idx` (`aNum`);
INSERT INTO `myTable` (`aName`,`aDate`)
VALUES
("Daniel","2017-09-19 01:22:31")
,("Quentin","2017-06-03 01:06:45")
,("Chester","2017-06-14 17:49:36")
,("Lev","2017-08-30 06:27:59")
,("Garrett","2018-10-04 02:40:37")
,("Lane","2017-01-22 17:11:21")
,("Chaim","2017-09-20 11:13:46")
,("Kieran","2018-03-10 18:37:26")
,("Cedric","2017-05-20 16:25:10")
,("Conan","2018-07-10 06:29:39")
,("Rudyard","2017-07-14 00:04:00")
,("Chadwick","2018-08-18 08:54:08")
,("Darius","2018-10-02 06:55:56")
,("Joseph","2017-06-19 13:20:33")
,("Wayne","2017-04-02 23:20:25")
,("Hall","2017-10-13 00:17:24")
,("Craig","2016-12-04 08:15:22")
,("Keane","2018-03-12 04:21:46")
,("Russell","2017-07-14 17:21:58")
,("Seth","2018-07-25 05:51:30")
,("Cole","2018-06-09 15:32:53")
,("Donovan","2017-08-12 05:21:35")
,("Damon","2017-06-27 03:44:19")
,("Brian","2017-02-01 23:35:20")
,("Harper","2017-08-25 04:29:27")
,("Chandler","2017-09-30 23:54:06")
,("Edward","2018-07-30 12:18:07")
,("Curran","2018-05-23 09:31:53")
,("Uriel","2017-05-08 03:31:43")
,("Honorato","2018-04-07 14:57:53")
,("Griffin","2017-01-07 23:35:31")
,("Hasad","2017-05-15 05:32:41")
,("Burke","2017-07-04 01:11:19")
,("Hyatt","2017-03-14 17:12:28")
,("Brenden","2017-10-17 05:16:14")
,("Ryan","2018-10-10 08:07:55")
,("Giacomo","2018-10-06 14:21:21")
,("James","2018-02-06 02:45:59")
,("Colt","2017-10-10 08:11:26")
,("Kermit","2017-09-18 16:57:16")
,("Drake","2018-05-20 22:08:36")
,("Berk","2017-04-16 17:39:32")
,("Alan","2018-09-01 05:33:05")
,("Deacon","2017-04-20 07:03:05")
,("Omar","2018-03-02 15:04:32")
,("Thaddeus","2017-09-19 04:07:54")
,("Troy","2016-12-13 04:24:08")
,("Rogan","2017-11-02 00:03:25")
,("Grant","2017-08-21 01:45:16")
,("Walker","2016-11-26 15:54:52")
,("Clarke","2017-07-20 02:26:56")
,("Clayton","2018-08-16 05:09:29")
,("Denton","2018-08-11 05:26:05")
,("Nicholas","2018-07-19 09:29:55")
,("Hashim","2018-08-10 20:38:06")
,("Todd","2016-10-25 01:01:36")
,("Xenos","2017-05-11 22:50:35")
,("Bert","2017-06-17 18:08:21")
,("Oleg","2018-01-03 13:10:32")
,("Hall","2018-06-04 01:53:45")
,("Evan","2017-01-16 01:04:25")
,("Mohammad","2016-11-18 05:42:52")
,("Armand","2016-12-18 06:57:57")
,("Kaseem","2018-06-12 23:09:57")
,("Colin","2017-06-29 05:25:52")
,("Arthur","2016-12-29 04:38:13")
,("Xander","2016-11-14 19:35:32")
,("Dante","2016-12-01 09:01:04")
,("Zahir","2018-02-17 14:44:53")
,("Raymond","2017-03-09 05:33:06")
,("Giacomo","2017-04-17 06:12:52")
,("Fulton","2017-06-04 00:41:57")
,("Chase","2018-01-14 03:03:57")
,("William","2017-05-08 09:44:59")
,("Fuller","2017-03-31 20:35:20")
,("Jarrod","2017-02-15 02:45:29")
,("Nissim","2018-03-11 14:19:25")
,("Chester","2017-11-05 00:14:27")
,("Perry","2017-12-24 11:58:04")
,("Theodore","2017-06-26 12:34:12")
,("Mason","2017-10-02 03:53:49")
,("Brenden","2018-10-08 10:09:47")
,("Jerome","2017-11-05 20:34:25")
,("Keaton","2018-08-18 00:55:56")
,("Tiger","2017-05-21 16:59:07")
,("Benjamin","2018-04-10 14:46:36")
,("John","2018-09-05 18:53:03")
,("Jakeem","2018-10-11 00:17:38")
,("Kenyon","2017-12-18 22:19:29")
,("Ferris","2017-03-29 06:59:13")
,("Hoyt","2017-01-03 03:48:56")
,("Fitzgerald","2017-07-27 11:27:52")
,("Forrest","2017-10-05 23:14:21")
,("Jordan","2017-01-11 03:48:09")
,("Lev","2017-05-25 08:03:39")
,("Chase","2017-06-18 19:09:23")
,("Ryder","2016-12-13 12:50:50")
,("Malik","2017-11-19 15:15:55")
,("Zeph","2018-04-04 11:22:12")
,("Amala","2017-01-29 07:52:17")
;
.
update MyTable
set aNum = id
;
Query 1:
select 'aNum by OR' q, mytable.*
from mytable
where aNum = 12
OR aNum = 22
OR aNum = 27
OR aNum = 32
OR aNum = 42
OR aNum = 52
OR aNum = 62
OR aNum = 65
OR aNum = 72
OR aNum = 82
Results:
| q | id | aName | aDate | aNum |
|------------|----|----------|----------------------|------|
| aNum by OR | 12 | Chadwick | 2018-08-18T08:54:08Z | 12 |
| aNum by OR | 22 | Donovan | 2017-08-12T05:21:35Z | 22 |
| aNum by OR | 27 | Edward | 2018-07-30T12:18:07Z | 27 |
| aNum by OR | 32 | Hasad | 2017-05-15T05:32:41Z | 32 |
| aNum by OR | 42 | Berk | 2017-04-16T17:39:32Z | 42 |
| aNum by OR | 52 | Clayton | 2018-08-16T05:09:29Z | 52 |
| aNum by OR | 62 | Mohammad | 2016-11-18T05:42:52Z | 62 |
| aNum by OR | 65 | Colin | 2017-06-29T05:25:52Z | 65 |
| aNum by OR | 72 | Fulton | 2017-06-04T00:41:57Z | 72 |
| aNum by OR | 82 | Brenden | 2018-10-08T10:09:47Z | 82 |
Query 2:
select 'aNum by IN' q, mytable.*
from mytable
where aNum IN (
12
, 22
, 27
, 32
, 42
, 52
, 62
, 65
, 72
, 82
)
Results:
| q | id | aName | aDate | aNum |
|------------|----|----------|----------------------|------|
| aNum by IN | 12 | Chadwick | 2018-08-18T08:54:08Z | 12 |
| aNum by IN | 22 | Donovan | 2017-08-12T05:21:35Z | 22 |
| aNum by IN | 27 | Edward | 2018-07-30T12:18:07Z | 27 |
| aNum by IN | 32 | Hasad | 2017-05-15T05:32:41Z | 32 |
| aNum by IN | 42 | Berk | 2017-04-16T17:39:32Z | 42 |
| aNum by IN | 52 | Clayton | 2018-08-16T05:09:29Z | 52 |
| aNum by IN | 62 | Mohammad | 2016-11-18T05:42:52Z | 62 |
| aNum by IN | 65 | Colin | 2017-06-29T05:25:52Z | 65 |
| aNum by IN | 72 | Fulton | 2017-06-04T00:41:57Z | 72 |
| aNum by IN | 82 | Brenden | 2018-10-08T10:09:47Z | 82 |
Query 3:
select 'adate by OR' q, mytable.*
from mytable
where aDate= str_to_date("2017-02-15 02:45:29",'%Y-%m-%d %h:%i:%s')
OR aDate = str_to_date("2018-03-10 18:37:26",'%Y-%m-%d %h:%i:%s')
OR aDate = str_to_date("2017-05-20 16:25:10",'%Y-%m-%d %h:%i:%s')
OR aDate = str_to_date("2018-07-10 06:29:39",'%Y-%m-%d %h:%i:%s')
OR aDate = str_to_date("2017-07-14 00:04:00",'%Y-%m-%d %h:%i:%s')
OR aDate = str_to_date("2018-08-18 08:54:08",'%Y-%m-%d %h:%i:%s')
OR aDate = str_to_date("2018-10-02 06:55:56",'%Y-%m-%d %h:%i:%s')
OR aDate = str_to_date("2017-04-20 07:03:05",'%Y-%m-%d %h:%i:%s')
OR aDate = str_to_date("2018-03-02 15:04:32",'%Y-%m-%d %h:%i:%s')
OR aDate = str_to_date("2017-09-19 04:07:54",'%Y-%m-%d %h:%i:%s')
OR aDate = str_to_date("2016-12-13 04:24:08",'%Y-%m-%d %h:%i:%s')
Results:
| q | id | aName | aDate | aNum |
|-------------|----|----------|----------------------|------|
| adate by OR | 47 | Troy | 2016-12-13T04:24:08Z | 47 |
| adate by OR | 76 | Jarrod | 2017-02-15T02:45:29Z | 76 |
| adate by OR | 44 | Deacon | 2017-04-20T07:03:05Z | 44 |
| adate by OR | 46 | Thaddeus | 2017-09-19T04:07:54Z | 46 |
| adate by OR | 10 | Conan | 2018-07-10T06:29:39Z | 10 |
| adate by OR | 12 | Chadwick | 2018-08-18T08:54:08Z | 12 |
| adate by OR | 13 | Darius | 2018-10-02T06:55:56Z | 13 |
Query 4:
select 'adate by IN' q, mytable.*
from mytable
where aDate IN (
str_to_date("2017-02-15 02:45:29",'%Y-%m-%d %h:%i:%s')
, str_to_date("2018-03-10 18:37:26",'%Y-%m-%d %h:%i:%s')
, str_to_date("2017-05-20 16:25:10",'%Y-%m-%d %h:%i:%s')
, str_to_date("2018-07-10 06:29:39",'%Y-%m-%d %h:%i:%s')
, str_to_date("2017-07-14 00:04:00",'%Y-%m-%d %h:%i:%s')
, str_to_date("2018-08-18 08:54:08",'%Y-%m-%d %h:%i:%s')
, str_to_date("2018-10-02 06:55:56",'%Y-%m-%d %h:%i:%s')
, str_to_date("2017-04-20 07:03:05",'%Y-%m-%d %h:%i:%s')
, str_to_date("2018-03-02 15:04:32",'%Y-%m-%d %h:%i:%s')
, str_to_date("2017-09-19 04:07:54",'%Y-%m-%d %h:%i:%s')
, str_to_date("2016-12-13 04:24:08",'%Y-%m-%d %h:%i:%s')
)
Results:
| q | id | aName | aDate | aNum |
|-------------|----|----------|----------------------|------|
| adate by IN | 47 | Troy | 2016-12-13T04:24:08Z | 47 |
| adate by IN | 76 | Jarrod | 2017-02-15T02:45:29Z | 76 |
| adate by IN | 44 | Deacon | 2017-04-20T07:03:05Z | 44 |
| adate by IN | 46 | Thaddeus | 2017-09-19T04:07:54Z | 46 |
| adate by IN | 10 | Conan | 2018-07-10T06:29:39Z | 10 |
| adate by IN | 12 | Chadwick | 2018-08-18T08:54:08Z | 12 |
| adate by IN | 13 | Darius | 2018-10-02T06:55:56Z | 13 |
Query 5:
select 'name by OR' q, mytable.*
from mytable
where aname = 'Alan'
OR aname = 'Brian'
OR aname = 'Chandler'
OR aname = 'Darius'
OR aname = 'Evan'
OR aname = 'Ferris'
OR aname = 'Giacomo'
OR aname = 'Hall'
OR aname = 'James'
OR aname = 'Jarrod'
Results:
| q | id | aName | aDate | aNum |
|-------------|----|----------|----------------------|------|
| name by OR | 43 | Alan | 2018-09-01T05:33:05Z | 43 |
| name by OR | 24 | Brian | 2017-02-01T23:35:20Z | 24 |
| name by OR | 26 | Chandler | 2017-09-30T23:54:06Z | 26 |
| name by OR | 13 | Darius | 2018-10-02T06:55:56Z | 13 |
| name by OR | 61 | Evan | 2017-01-16T01:04:25Z | 61 |
| name by OR | 90 | Ferris | 2017-03-29T06:59:13Z | 90 |
| name by OR | 37 | Giacomo | 2018-10-06T14:21:21Z | 37 |
| name by OR | 71 | Giacomo | 2017-04-17T06:12:52Z | 71 |
| name by OR | 16 | Hall | 2017-10-13T00:17:24Z | 16 |
| name by OR | 60 | Hall | 2018-06-04T01:53:45Z | 60 |
| name by OR | 38 | James | 2018-02-06T02:45:59Z | 38 |
| name by OR | 76 | Jarrod | 2017-02-15T02:45:29Z | 76 |
Query 6:
select 'name by IN' q, mytable.*
from mytable
where aname IN (
'Alan'
,'Brian'
,'Chandler'
, 'Darius'
, 'Evan'
, 'Ferris'
, 'Giacomo'
, 'Hall'
, 'James'
, 'Jarrod'
)
Results:
| q | id | aName | aDate | aNum |
|------------|----|----------|----------------------|------|
| name by IN | 43 | Alan | 2018-09-01T05:33:05Z | 43 |
| name by IN | 24 | Brian | 2017-02-01T23:35:20Z | 24 |
| name by IN | 26 | Chandler | 2017-09-30T23:54:06Z | 26 |
| name by IN | 13 | Darius | 2018-10-02T06:55:56Z | 13 |
| name by IN | 61 | Evan | 2017-01-16T01:04:25Z | 61 |
| name by IN | 90 | Ferris | 2017-03-29T06:59:13Z | 90 |
| name by IN | 37 | Giacomo | 2018-10-06T14:21:21Z | 37 |
| name by IN | 71 | Giacomo | 2017-04-17T06:12:52Z | 71 |
| name by IN | 16 | Hall | 2017-10-13T00:17:24Z | 16 |
| name by IN | 60 | Hall | 2018-06-04T01:53:45Z | 60 |
| name by IN | 38 | James | 2018-02-06T02:45:59Z | 38 |
| name by IN | 76 | Jarrod | 2017-02-15T02:45:29Z | 76 |
As explained by others, IN is better chosen than OR with respect to query performance.
Queries with OR condition might take more longer execution time in the below cases.