====== NVL Function - PL/HQL Reference======
NVL function returns first non-NULL expression.
**Syntax**:
NVL(expr1, expr2 [, expr3, ...]);
**Parameters:**
| **Parameter** | **Type** | **Value** |
| exprN | Any | Variable or expression |
**Notes**:
* When first non-NULL expression is found the following expressions are not evaluated
* NVL and [[coalesce|COALESCE]] functions are synonyms
**Return Value:**
* First non-NULL expression
* NULL if all expressions evaluate to NULL
**Return Type:**
The data type of first non-NULL expression.
**Example 1:**
NVL(NULL, 1);
Result: 1
**Compatibility**: Oracle, IBM DB2 and Netezza.
**Version**: PL/HQL 0.01
See also:
* [[coalesce|COALESCE]]