Are there situations where using NOT (like WHERE NOT or AND NOT) is better than using <> or !=?

Hi Bruno,

Great question. Both NOT and <> / != can be used to exclude values, but there are cases where NOT is preferred for clarity.

Here’s when using NOT can make more sense:

1. With complex conditions
   When you're excluding entire conditions or expressions, NOT can make things clearer:

   WHERE NOT (age < 18 OR country = 'UAE')
   

2. With subqueries
   NOT IN and NOT EXISTS are common and often easier to read than alternatives:

   WHERE NOT EXISTS (SELECT * FROM ...)
   

3. Improved readability
   In some cases, AND NOT country = 'UAE' might be easier to read than country != 'UAE', especially in long conditions.

That said, if you're just comparing single values, <> or != is shorter and works just as well:

WHERE country != 'UAE'

In the end, it comes down to readability and personal or team preference. Functionally, both work — pick the one that makes your intent clearest.

If you’ve got more questions, I’m here to help.