Introduction
The BETWEEN operator is used in databases and programming to filter data within a specific range. It helps you select values that fall between two defined limits.
Syntax
SELECT column_name
FROM table_name
WHERE column_name BETWEEN value1 AND value2;
- column_name – the field you want to filter
- table_name – the table containing the data
- value1 – the lower limit of the range
- value2 – the upper limit of the range
Note: The BETWEEN operator includes both the lower and upper limits.
Examples
- Numbers
SELECT *
FROM Employees
WHERE Age BETWEEN 25 AND 35;
This query retrieves all employees whose age is between 25 and 35, inclusive.
- Dates
SELECT *
FROM Orders
WHERE OrderDate BETWEEN '2026-01-01' AND '2026-03-01';
This query retrieves orders placed between January 1, 2026, and March 1, 2026.
- Text
Some databases allowBETWEENwith text to filter alphabetically.
SELECT *
FROM Products
WHERE ProductName BETWEEN 'A' AND 'M';
This query retrieves products with names starting from A to M.
Important Points
BETWEENis inclusive of the boundary values.- You can use it with numbers, dates, and sometimes text.
- Equivalent to using
>= value1 AND <= value2but cleaner and easier to read.
Practice Exercise
- Retrieve all students with marks between 50 and 80.
- List all orders placed between February 1, 2026, and February 28, 2026.
This structure works perfectly for website tutorials, LMS courses, or interactive lessons.