# STRCMP

## Syntax

```sql
STRCMP(expr1,expr2)
```

## Description

`STRCMP()` returns `0` if the strings are the same, `-1` if the first argument is smaller than the second according to the current sort order, and `1` if the strings are otherwise not the same. Returns `NULL` is either argument is `NULL`.

## Examples

```sql
SELECT STRCMP('text', 'text2');
+-------------------------+
| STRCMP('text', 'text2') |
+-------------------------+
|                      -1 |
+-------------------------+

SELECT STRCMP('text2', 'text');
+-------------------------+
| STRCMP('text2', 'text') |
+-------------------------+
|                       1 |
+-------------------------+

SELECT STRCMP('text', 'text');
+------------------------+
| STRCMP('text', 'text') |
+------------------------+
|                      0 |
+------------------------+
```

<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" %}


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-functions/string-functions/strcmp.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.