Syntax

DEFAULT(col_name)

Description

Returns the default value for a table column. If the column has no default value, NULL is returned. For integer columns using AUTO_INCREMENT, 0 is returned.

When using DEFAULT as a value to set in an INSERT or UPDATE statement, you can use the bare keyword DEFAULT without the parentheses and argument to refer to the column in context. You can only use DEFAULT as a bare keyword if you are using it alone without a surrounding expression or function.

Examples

Select only non-default values for a column:

SELECT i FROM t WHERE i != DEFAULT(i);

Update values to be one greater than the default value:

UPDATE t SET i = DEFAULT(i)+1 WHERE i < 100;

When referring to the default value exactly in UPDATE or INSERT, you can omit the argument:

INSERT INTO t (i) VALUES (DEFAULT);
UPDATE t SET i = DEFAULT WHERE i < 100;

See Also

• CREATE TABLE DEFAULT Clause