# SET Variable

## Syntax

```sql
SET var_name = expr [, var_name = expr] ...
```

## Description

The `SET` statement in [stored programs](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/server-usage/stored-routines) is an extended version of the general [SET](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/administrative-sql-statements/set-commands) statement. Referenced variables may be ones declared inside a stored program, global system variables, or user-defined variables.

The `SET` statement in stored programs is implemented as part of the pre-existing [SET](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/administrative-sql-statements/set-commands/set) syntax. This allows an extended syntax of `SET a=x, b=y, ...` where different variable types (locally declared variables, global and session server variables, user-defined variables) can be mixed. This also allows combinations of local variables and some options that make sense only for system variables; in that case, the options are recognized but ignored.

`SET` can be used with both [local variables](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/programmatic-compound-statements/declare-variable) and [user-defined variables](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-structure/sql-language-structure/user-defined-variables).

When setting several variables using the columns returned by a query, [SELECT INTO](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/programmatic-compound-statements/selectinto) should be preferred.

To set many variables to the same value, the [LAST\_VALUE( )](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-functions/secondary-functions/information-functions/last_value) function can be used.

Below is an example of how a user-defined variable may be set:

```sql
SET @x = 1;
```

## See Also

* [SET](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/administrative-sql-statements/set-commands/set)
* [SET STATEMENT](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/administrative-sql-statements/set-commands/set-statement)
* [DECLARE Variable](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/programmatic-compound-statements/declare-variable)

<sub>*This page is licensed: GPLv2, originally from*</sub> [<sub>*fill\_help\_tables.sql*</sub>](https://github.com/MariaDB/server/blob/main/scripts/fill_help_tables.sql)

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