---
title: "What is use of EXCEPT Clause in SQL?"  
description: "What is use of EXCEPT Clause in SQL?"  
author: "Sumit Kesarwani"  
published: 2014-08-21  
updated: 2020-09-17  
canonical: https://www.mindstick.com/interview/1964/what-is-use-of-except-clause-in-sql  
category: "mssql server"  
tags: ["mssql server"]  
reading_time: 1 minute  

---

# What is use of EXCEPT Clause in SQL?

EXCEPT clause is similar to MINUS operation in Oracle. The EXCEPT query and MINUS query returns all rows in the first query that are not returned in the second query. Each SQL statement within the EXCEPT query and MINUS query must have the same number of fields in the result sets with similar data types.

## Answers

### Answer by Sumit Kesarwani

EXCEPT clause is similar to MINUS operation in Oracle. The EXCEPT query and MINUS query returns all rows in the first query that are not returned in the second query. Each SQL statement within the EXCEPT query and MINUS query must have the same number of fields in the result sets with similar data types.


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Original Source: https://www.mindstick.com/interview/1964/what-is-use-of-except-clause-in-sql

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