Difference between IN and ANY operators in SQL

sql

subquery

performance

best-practices

byAnton Shumikhin·Nov 11, 2024

IN checks if a value exists within a list or a result set of a subquery. It's essentially a shorthand for OR conditions. On the other hand, ANY demands a comparator and returns true if the condition is met by any value in the list or subquery.

IN example:

-- Who's in for a party? 🎉
SELECT * FROM employees WHERE department_id IN (1, 2, 3);

ANY example — note how we pair ANY with the comparator:

-- Who earns more than... well, ANYone in their department? 💸
SELECT * FROM employees WHERE salary > ANY (SELECT threshold_salary FROM departments);

IN is handy for exact matches, while ANY offers versatility with varied operators.

Breaking down ANY and IN

When you must choose an operator, context comes to the foreground. The IN operator's winning hand is its simplicity, great for dealing with fixed values or literal lists. It makes your SQL crisp and readable.

ANY, the chameleon, adapts to operators like =, <>, <, >, <=, >=, powering complex conditions against a list or subquery. If your comparison involves range and diversity, ANY is your card.

However, while these operators can pass off as each other, their performance might differ based on the database engine and subquery complexity. The operator = preceding ANY mirrors IN. But for heavyweight subqueries, ANY might not run as swiftly.

Also in the game are ALL and SOME. ALL is strict, comparing a value to every item, and SOME is synonymous with ANY.

Summing up, IN is your chum when you're sure of your choices. For fine-tuned conditions, lean on ANY.

IN Operator

Imagine a basket of apples, oranges, and pears.

`IN` Operator: 🍎🍊🍐 (Your Fruit Basket)

You select fruits only if they're in your basket.

-- Apple, orange, or pear jam today? 🏡
SELECT * FROM FruitBasket WHERE Fruit IN ('Apple', 'Orange', 'Pear');

ANY Operator

Let's get adventurous; you look outside, at the trees in your backyard.

`ANY` Operator: 🌳🌴🌸 (Fruits from any tree in your backyard)

You'll pick any fruit that your backyard offers.

-- Does an apple a day indeed keep the doctor away? 🍎👩‍⚕️
SELECT * FROM FruitBasket WHERE Fruit = ANY (SELECT Fruit FROM BackyardTrees);

IN is your home run, while ANY ventures around.

Performance quirks

Performance matters when you decide between IN and ANY. Here's what to keep in mind:

Query Plans: The query optimizer of your DBMS might treat IN and ANY differently, thus affecting the execution plans.
Indexes: Check if your database is utilizing indexes efficiently with both operators.
Subquery Complexity: Anything that complicates subqueries, such as ANY, without effective indexing, could slow things down.
Data Volume: When dealing with mammoth data sets, even minute differences become significant.

The performance rubric

This isn't about picking sides but about knowing the terrain. Use both operators under your specific conditions. In some cases, they might run for the same time, but it’s the edge cases that tell the tale.

Getting choosy: IN vs ANY

Choosing between IN and ANY boils down to your SQL needs.

When to use IN:

Fixed List Comparisons: When dealing with a specified set of items.
Simplicity and Readability: If clean and comprehensible SQL is your priority.
Large Result Sets: Where IN might serve a better-optimized query plan.

When to opt for ANY:

Dynamic Comparisons: When your list isn't known in advance or is subject to changes.
Complex Conditions: When you are applying operators other than =.
Fine-Tuned Control: If you need comparisons against specific elements from the subquery.