# LEAVE

## Syntax

```sql
LEAVE label
```

This statement is used to exit the flow control construct that has the given [label](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/programmatic-compound-statements/labels). The label must be in the same stored program, not in a caller procedure. `LEAVE` can be used within [BEGIN ... END](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/programmatic-compound-statements/begin-end) or loop constructs ([LOOP](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/programmatic-compound-statements/loop), [REPEAT](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/programmatic-compound-statements/repeat-loop), [WHILE](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/programmatic-compound-statements/while)). In [Stored Procedures](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/server-usage/stored-routines/stored-procedures), [Triggers](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/server-usage/triggers-events/triggers) and [Events](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/server-usage/triggers-events/event-scheduler/events), LEAVE can refer to the outmost `BEGIN ... END` construct; in that case, the program exits the procedure. In [Stored Functions](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/server-usage/stored-routines/stored-functions), [RETURN](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/programmatic-compound-statements/return) can be used instead.

{% hint style="info" %}
`LEAVE` cannot be used to exit a [DECLARE HANDLER](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/programmatic-compound-statements/declare-handler) block.
{% endhint %}

If you try to `LEAVE` a non-existing label, or if you try to `LEAVE` a `HANDLER` block, the following error will be produced:

```sql
ERROR 1308 (42000): LEAVE with no matching label: <label_name>
```

The following example uses `LEAVE` to exit the procedure if a condition is true:

```sql
CREATE PROCEDURE proc(IN p TINYINT)
CONTAINS SQL
`whole_proc`:
BEGIN
   SELECT 1;
   IF p < 1 THEN
      LEAVE `whole_proc`;
   END IF;
   SELECT 2;
END;

CALL proc(0);
+---+
| 1 |
+---+
| 1 |
+---+
```

## See Also

* [ITERATE](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/programmatic-compound-statements/iterate) - Repeats a loop execution

<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)

{% @marketo/form formId="4316" %}


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