---
title: SQL CHECK Constraint
---

The CHECK constraint is used to limit the value range that can be placed in a column.

If you define a CHECK constraint on a single column it allows only certain values for this column.

If you define a CHECK constraint on a table it can limit the values in certain columns based on values in other columns in the row.

### SQL CHECK on CREATE TABLE

The following SQL creates a CHECK constraint on the "Age" column when the "Persons" table is created. The CHECK constraint ensures that you can not have any person below 18 years:

**MySQL:**
```sql
CREATE TABLE Persons (
    ID int NOT NULL,
    LastName varchar(255) NOT NULL,
    FirstName varchar(255),
    Age int,
    CHECK (Age>=18)
);
```

**SQL Server / Oracle / MS Access:**
```sql
CREATE TABLE Persons (
    ID int NOT NULL,
    LastName varchar(255) NOT NULL,
    FirstName varchar(255),
    Age int CHECK (Age>=18)
);
```

To allow naming of a CHECK constraint, and for defining a CHECK constraint on multiple columns, use the following SQL syntax:

**MySQL / SQL Server / Oracle / MS Access:**
```sql
CREATE TABLE Persons (
    ID int NOT NULL,
    LastName varchar(255) NOT NULL,
    FirstName varchar(255),
    Age int,
    City varchar(255),
    CONSTRAINT CHK_Person CHECK (Age>=18 AND City='Sandnes')
);
```

### SQL CHECK on ALTER TABLE

To create a CHECK constraint on the "Age" column when the table is already created, use the following SQL:

**MySQL / SQL Server / Oracle / MS Access:**
```sql
ALTER TABLE Persons
ADD CHECK (Age>=18);
```

To allow naming of a CHECK constraint, and for defining a CHECK constraint on multiple columns, use the following SQL syntax:

**MySQL / SQL Server / Oracle / MS Access:**
```sql
ALTER TABLE Persons
ADD CONSTRAINT CHK_PersonAge CHECK (Age>=18 AND City='Sandnes');
```
### DROP a CHECK Constraint


To drop a CHECK constraint, use the following SQL:

**SQL Server / Oracle / MS Access:**
```sql
ALTER TABLE Persons
DROP CONSTRAINT CHK_PersonAge;
```

**MySQL:**
```sql
ALTER TABLE Persons
DROP CHECK CHK_PersonAge; 
```