MySQL query to display custom text for empty columns

Let us first create a table −

mysql> create table DemoTable
   -> (
   -> FirstName varchar(20)
   -> );
Query OK, 0 rows affected (0.77 sec)

Insert some records in the table using insert command −

mysql> insert into DemoTable values('Chris');
Query OK, 1 row affected (0.14 sec)
mysql> insert into DemoTable values('');
Query OK, 1 row affected (0.16 sec)
mysql> insert into DemoTable values('David');
Query OK, 1 row affected (0.14 sec)
mysql> insert into DemoTable values('Bob');
Query OK, 1 row affected (0.15 sec)
mysql> insert into DemoTable values('');
Query OK, 1 row affected (0.13 sec)

Display all records from the table using select statement −

mysql> select *from DemoTable;

This will produce the following output −

+-----------+
| FirstName |
+-----------+
| Chris     |
|           |
| David     |
| Bob       |
|           |
+-----------+
5 rows in set (0.00 sec)

Following is the query to display custom text for empty columns −

mysql> select if(FirstName='','Not Applicable',FirstName) as Status from DemoTable;

This will produce the following output −

+----------------+
| Status         |
+----------------+
| Chris          |
| Not Applicable |
| David          |
| Bob            |
| Not Applicable |
+----------------+
5 rows in set (0.00 sec)