from: http://www.adp-gmbh.ch/ora/sql/decode.html
decode (expression, search_1, result_1) decode (expression, search_1, result_1, search_2, result_2) decode (expression, search_1, result_1, search_2, result_2, ...., search_n, result_n) decode (expression, search_1, result_1, default) decode (expression, search_1, result_1, search_2, result_2, default) decode (expression, search_1, result_1, search_2, result_2, ...., search_n, result_n, default)
decode compares expression to the search_x expressions and, if matches, returns result_x. If not, returns default, or, if default is left out,
null.
a sample:
create table a (x int, b int); insert into a values (1,2); insert into a values (1,3); insert into a values (2,4); insert into a values (2,5); insert into a values (3,6); select * from a where b = decode (x,1,2,2,4);
X B ---------- ---------- 1 2 2 4