Decode函数的语法结构如下:
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函数比较表达式和搜索字，假如匹配，返回结果；假如不匹配，返回default值；假如未定义default值，则返回空值。
以下是一个简单测试，用于说明Decode函数的用法:
SQL> create table t as select username,default_tablespace,lock_date from dba_users;
Table created.
SQL> select * from t;
USERNAME DEFAULT_TABLESPACE LOCK_DATE
------------------------------ ------------------------------ ---------
SYSSYSTEM
SYSTEM SYSTEM
OUTLNSYSTEM
CSMIGSYSTEM
SCOTTSYSTEM
EYGLEUSERS
DBSNMP SYSTEM
WMSYSSYSTEM 20-OCT-04
8 rows selected.
SQL> select username,decode(lock_date,null,'unlocked','locked') status from t;
USERNAME STATUS
------------------------------ --------
SYSunlocked
SYSTEM unlocked
OUTLNunlocked
CSMIGunlocked
SCOTTunlocked
EYGLEunlocked
DBSNMP unlocked
WMSYSlocked
8 rows selected.
SQL> select username,decode(lock_date,null,'unlocked') status from t;
USERNAME STATUS
------------------------------ --------
SYSunlocked
SYSTEM unlocked
OUTLNunlocked
CSMIGunlocked
SCOTTunlocked
EYGLEunlocked
DBSNMP unlocked
WMSYS
8 rows selected.
