SQL subqueries are queries nested inside another query to perform operations like filtering,
aggregation, and data retrieval. Below are the main types of subqueries, along with SQL queries
and sample data.
1. Single-Row Subquery
A subquery that returns a single value (one row, one column). Used with comparison operators
(=, >, <, >=, <=, <>).
Example: Find employees earning more than the average salary
Sample Table: employees
Query:
SELECT name, salary
FROM employees
WHERE salary > (SELECT AVG(salary) FROM employees);
Output:
The subquery calculates the average salary, and the outer query
filters employees earning above that.
2. Multi-Row Subquery
Returns multiple rows for a single column. Used with IN, ANY, ALL.
Example: Find employees working in the same department as ‘Bob’
Query:
SELECT name
FROM employees
WHERE department IN (SELECT department FROM employees WHERE name =
'Bob');
OUTPUT:
The subquery finds Bob’s department (HR), and the outer query fetches
all employees from HR.
3. Multi-Column Subquery
Returns multiple columns and is used for comparing multiple values.
Example: Find employees with the same job and department as ‘Alice’
Sample Table: employees_extended
Query:
SELECT name
FROM employees_extended
WHERE (department, job_role) =
(SELECT department, job_role FROM employees_extended WHERE name
= 'Alice');
OUTPUT:
The subquery returns Alice’s job (Developer) and department (IT), and
the outer query retrieves employees with the same role and department.
4. Correlated Subquery
A subquery that runs once for each row in the outer query.
Example: Find employees earning above their department’s average
salary
Query:
SELECT name, salary
FROM employees e1
WHERE salary > (SELECT AVG(salary)
FROM employees e2
WHERE e1.department = e2.department);
OUTPUT:
The subquery calculates the average salary per department, and the
outer query selects employees earning above their department's
average.
5. Subquery in FROM Clause (Derived Table)
Treats a subquery as a temporary table.
Example: Find departments with an average salary above 5000
SQL:
SELECT department
FROM (SELECT department, AVG(salary) AS avg_salary
FROM employees
GROUP BY department) AS dept_avg
WHERE avg_salary > 5000;
OUTPUT:
The subquery calculates department-wise average salaries, and the
outer query filters those above 5000.
6. EXISTS/NOT EXISTS Subquery
Checks whether a subquery returns any rows.
Example: Find departments that have employees
Sample Table: departments
SQL:
SELECT department
FROM departments d
WHERE EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM employees e WHERE d.department =
e.department);
OUTPUT:
The EXISTS subquery ensures that only departments having employees are
returned.
Summary of SQL Subquery Types
Subquery Type Returns Used With Example Query
Single-Row 1 row, 1 column =, >, <, >=, <= Employees
earning above
average salary
Multi-Row Multiple rows, 1 IN, ANY, ALL Employees in
column Bob’s department
Multi-Column Multiple rows, =, IN Employees with
multiple columns same job and
department as
Alice
Correlated Executes per row EXISTS, NOT Employees
EXISTS, earning above
Comparisons department
average
Subquery in FROM Acts as a SELECT, GROUP Departments with
temporary table BY, HAVING high average
salary
EXISTS/NOT Boolean EXISTS, NOT Departments with
EXISTS (TRUE/FALSE) EXISTS employees
