WHERE with BETWEEN range in SQL

Introduction

The WHERE with BETWEEN range helps you find rows where a value falls between two limits. It makes searching easier when you want to check if something is inside a range.

Finding all sales made between two dates.

Getting products priced between $10 and $50.

Listing students with scores between 70 and 90.

Selecting events happening between two times.

Filtering employees with ages between 25 and 35.

Syntax

SQL

SELECT column1, column2, ...
FROM table_name
WHERE column_name BETWEEN value1 AND value2;

The BETWEEN keyword includes both value1 and value2 in the search.

It works for numbers, dates, and text (alphabetical order).

Examples

Finds products with prices from 10 to 50, including 10 and 50.

SQL

SELECT * FROM products WHERE price BETWEEN 10 AND 50;

Finds orders placed in January 2024.

SQL

SELECT * FROM orders WHERE order_date BETWEEN '2024-01-01' AND '2024-01-31';

Finds students with scores between 70 and 90.

SQL

SELECT * FROM students WHERE score BETWEEN 70 AND 90;

Sample Program

This creates a table of employees, adds some data, and then selects employees aged between 25 and 35.

SQL

CREATE TABLE employees (
  id INT,
  name VARCHAR(50),
  age INT
);

INSERT INTO employees (id, name, age) VALUES
(1, 'Alice', 24),
(2, 'Bob', 30),
(3, 'Charlie', 35),
(4, 'Diana', 40);

SELECT name, age FROM employees WHERE age BETWEEN 25 AND 35;

Important Notes

BETWEEN is inclusive, so it includes the boundary values.

You can use NOT BETWEEN to find values outside the range.

Make sure the data types of the column and values match (e.g., dates with dates).

Summary

BETWEEN helps filter rows within a range easily.

It works with numbers, dates, and text.

It includes the start and end values in the results.

Practice

1. What does the SQL clause WHERE column BETWEEN 10 AND 20 do?

easy

A. Selects rows where the column value is greater than 10 but less than 20, excluding 10 and 20

B. Selects rows where the column value is between 10 and 20, including 10 and 20

C. Selects rows where the column value is exactly 10 or exactly 20 only

D. Selects rows where the column value is less than 10 or greater than 20

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand BETWEEN clause behavior

   The BETWEEN clause includes both the start and end values in the range.

2. Step 2: Apply to the given range 10 to 20

   This means values equal to 10, 20, or any number between them are selected.

3. Final Answer:

   Selects rows where the column value is between 10 and 20, including 10 and 20 -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   BETWEEN includes boundaries = B [OK]

Hint: BETWEEN includes both start and end values [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking BETWEEN excludes boundary values
• Confusing BETWEEN with > and < operators
• Assuming BETWEEN works only with numbers

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to select rows where age is between 18 and 30?

easy

A. SELECT * FROM users WHERE age BETWEEN (18 AND 30);

B. SELECT * FROM users WHERE age BETWEEN 18 TO 30;

C. SELECT * FROM users WHERE age BETWEEN 18, 30;

D. SELECT * FROM users WHERE age BETWEEN 18 AND 30;

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall correct BETWEEN syntax

   The correct syntax uses BETWEEN start AND end without commas or parentheses.

2. Step 2: Check each option

   SELECT * FROM users WHERE age BETWEEN 18 AND 30; uses correct syntax: BETWEEN 18 AND 30. Others have syntax errors.

3. Final Answer:

   SELECT * FROM users WHERE age BETWEEN 18 AND 30; -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   BETWEEN ... AND ... syntax = D [OK]

Hint: BETWEEN always uses AND, never TO or commas [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using TO instead of AND
• Adding commas between values
• Using parentheses around BETWEEN clause

3. Given the table products with a column price, what rows will this query return?

SELECT * FROM products WHERE price BETWEEN 50 AND 100;

Assume the prices in the table are: 45, 50, 75, 100, 120.

medium

A. Rows with prices 50, 75, and 100

B. Rows with prices 45, 50, 75, 100, and 120

C. Rows with prices 75 and 100 only

D. Rows with prices 50 and 100 only

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify the range in BETWEEN clause

   The query filters prices between 50 and 100, including both 50 and 100.

2. Step 2: Check which prices fall in this range

   Prices 50, 75, and 100 are within the range; 45 and 120 are outside.

3. Final Answer:

   Rows with prices 50, 75, and 100 -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   BETWEEN includes boundaries, so 50 and 100 included = A [OK]

Hint: BETWEEN includes start and end values in results [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Excluding boundary values 50 and 100
• Including values outside the range like 45 or 120
• Confusing BETWEEN with > and < operators

4. Identify the error in this SQL query:

SELECT * FROM orders WHERE order_date BETWEEN '2023-01-01' TO '2023-01-31';

medium

A. Using TO instead of AND in BETWEEN clause

B. Dates should not be in quotes

C. BETWEEN cannot be used with dates

D. Missing semicolon at the end

Solution

1. Step 1: Check BETWEEN syntax

   BETWEEN requires AND between the two values, not TO.

2. Step 2: Validate other parts

   Dates in quotes are correct, BETWEEN works with dates, and semicolon is optional in many systems.

3. Final Answer:

   Using TO instead of AND in BETWEEN clause -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   BETWEEN uses AND, not TO = A [OK]

Hint: BETWEEN always uses AND, never TO [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Replacing AND with TO in BETWEEN
• Thinking dates can't be quoted
• Assuming semicolon is mandatory

5. You want to select employees hired between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2022, inclusive. Which query correctly uses BETWEEN and also excludes employees hired on weekends?

SELECT * FROM employees WHERE hire_date BETWEEN '2020-01-01' AND '2022-12-31' AND EXTRACT(DOW FROM hire_date) NOT IN (0,6);

What does this query do?

hard

A. Selects employees hired between the dates including weekends

B. Selects employees hired only on weekends between the dates

C. Selects employees hired between the dates excluding weekends

D. Syntax error due to EXTRACT usage

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand BETWEEN usage

   The query selects employees hired from 2020-01-01 to 2022-12-31 inclusive.

2. Step 2: Analyze EXTRACT(DOW FROM hire_date) condition

   EXTRACT(DOW) returns day of week (0=Sunday, 6=Saturday). NOT IN (0,6) excludes weekends.

3. Step 3: Combine conditions

   Only employees hired on weekdays within the date range are selected.

4. Final Answer:

   Selects employees hired between the dates excluding weekends -> Option C

5. Quick Check:

   BETWEEN + weekday filter = C [OK]

Hint: Use BETWEEN for range and filter weekdays with EXTRACT [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming BETWEEN excludes boundaries
• Confusing day numbers for weekend days
• Thinking EXTRACT causes syntax error