Is there is any Performance issue while using ISNULL() in SQL Server?

Question

I am using ISNULL in MS SQl server 2008, since my table is too huge, whether using of ISNULL may cause any thing to the performance ?.

Thanks in advance

Answer 1

ISNULL() in the select-clause has neglible influence on the performance. In the where-clause on the other hand it can have a very huge impact on performance, since it prevents the optimizer for using an index on that column.

where isnull(col1, 0) = 0 -- unable to use index, because every                            -- row has to be evaluated  where col1 = isnull(@myVar, 0) -- index will be used, since isnull(@myVar, 0)                                 -- returns the same static value for every row and                                 -- not every row has to be evaluated by the function. 

So, when using isnull() in a where-clause, evaluate if it prevents the query optimizer from using an index. If so, consider creating a computed column with the result if isnull(col1, 0) and index the computed column and use it in your where-clause.