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Description

The ORA-01476 error in Oracle Database indicates an attempt to divide a number by zero within a SQL expression. This commonly occurs in SELECT statements, PL/SQL code, or other database operations involving calculations.

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Error Message

divisor is equal to zero

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Known Causes

3 known causes

⚠️

Zero Value in Expression

A column or variable used as the divisor in a calculation contains a zero value, leading to the error. 💻

⚠️

Incorrect Formula Logic

The logic within a SQL query or PL/SQL block results in a zero divisor during runtime. ⚙

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Data Quality Issues

Inaccurate or missing data in the database leads to a divisor becoming zero during calculations. ⚠

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Solutions

4 solutions available

1. Add NULLIF to Prevent Division by Zero easy

Convert zero divisor to NULL to avoid error

1

Use NULLIF to return NULL instead of error

-- Instead of:
SELECT total / count AS average FROM stats;

-- Use NULLIF:
SELECT total / NULLIF(count, 0) AS average FROM stats;
-- Returns NULL when count is 0

2. Use CASE to Handle Zero easy

Explicitly handle zero divisor with CASE expression

1

Use CASE WHEN to check before dividing

SELECT 
  CASE 
    WHEN count = 0 THEN 0
    ELSE total / count
  END AS average
FROM stats;

2

Return custom value for zero divisor

SELECT 
  CASE 
    WHEN quantity = 0 THEN NULL
    WHEN quantity < 0 THEN -1  -- Invalid
    ELSE total_price / quantity
  END AS unit_price
FROM orders;

3. Use DECODE Function easy

Oracle-specific alternative to CASE

1

Use DECODE for simple zero check

SELECT DECODE(count, 0, NULL, total/count) AS average
FROM stats;

4. Handle in PL/SQL with Exception medium

Catch ZERO_DIVIDE exception

1

Add exception handler

DECLARE
  v_result NUMBER;
BEGIN
  v_result := 100 / 0;  -- Will raise exception
EXCEPTION
  WHEN ZERO_DIVIDE THEN
    v_result := 0;  -- Or NULL, or handle appropriately
    DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE('Division by zero, using default');
END;

ORA-01476: Divide by Zero