SELECT without FROM clause

Version

23.2
Categories

SQL

You can now run SELECT expression-only queries without a FROM clause, e.g. adding from dual is no longer needed in such cases. The DUAL table has not disappeared, all queries that use it will continue to work as expected.

select
    2 * 3;

select
    to_char(
        sysdate,
        'dd.mm.yyyy'
    ) as today;

select
    sysdate;
Result
SQL> select
  2      2 * 3;

       2*3
----------
         6

SQL> select
  2      to_char(
  3          sysdate,
  4          'dd.mm.yyyy'
  5      ) as today;

TODAY
----------
20.06.2023

SQL> select
  2      sysdate;

SYSDATE
---------
20-JUN-23

Benefits

Making the from dual clause optional in expression-only SQL statements improves SQL code portability and ease of use for developers.

Further information