### 9.1.7 NULL Values

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 The `NULL` value means “no data.” `NULL` can be written in any lettercase.

 Be aware that the `NULL` value is different from values such as `0` for numeric types or the empty string for string types. For more information, see [Section B.3.4.3, “Problems with NULL Values”](problems-with-null.html).

 For text file import or export operations performed with [`LOAD DATA`](load-data.html) or [`SELECT ... INTO OUTFILE`](select-into.html), `NULL` is represented by the `\N` sequence. See [Section 13.2.7, “LOAD DATA Statement”](load-data.html).

 For sorting with `ORDER BY`, `NULL` values sort before other values for ascending sorts, after other values for descending sorts.

