Stuck with ‘SQL server divide by zero error encountered’? We can help you.

Recently, one of our customer came across this error as it is not possible to divide a number by zero. It leads to infinity. We perform data calculations in SQL Server for various considerations.

As part of your Server Management Services, we assist our customers with several SQL queries.

Today, let us see how to fix this error.

Cause for the error ‘SQL Server divide by zero error encountered’

Let us see what could cause the error ‘SQL Server divide by zero error encountered’.

To start with, If the product2 quantity goes out of stock and that means we do not have any quantity for product2.

DECLARE @Product1 INT;
DECLARE @Product2 INT;
SET @Product1 = 50;
SET @Product2 = 0;
SELECT @Product1 / @Product2 ProductRatio;

We get SQL divide by zero error messages (message id 8134, level 16):

Msg 8134, Level 16, State 1, Line 13
Divide by zero error encountered.

How to solve the error ‘SQL Server divide by zero error encountered’?

Always, it is a best practice to write code in such a way that it does not give divide by zero message. It should have a mechanism to deal proactively with such conditions.

Moving ahead, let us see an effective methods followed by our Support Techs employ in order to solve this error.

Method 1: SQL NULLIF Function

Initially, we use NULLIF function to avoid divide by zero error message.

The syntax of NULLIF function:

NULLIF(expression1, expression2)

It accepts two arguments.

• Firstly, If both the arguments are equal, it returns a null value

For example, suppose that the value of both arguments is 10.

SELECT NULLIF(10, 10) result;

In this case, the output will be null.

•  Secondly, If both the arguments are not equal, it returns the value of the first argument.

In this example, both argument values differ. It returns the output as value of first argument 10.

SELECT NULLIF(10, 5) result;

We can modify our initial query using the SQL NULLIF statement. We place the following logic using NULLIF function for eliminating SQL divide by zero error:

• Use NULLIF function in the denominator with second argument value zero
• If the value of the first argument is also zero, this function returns a null value. In SQL Server, if we divide a number with null, the output is null as well.
• If the value of the first argument is not zero, it returns the first argument value and division takes place as standard values.

DECLARE @Product1 INT;
DECLARE @Product2 INT;
SET @Product1 = 50;
SET @Product2 = 0;
SELECT @Product1 / NULLIF(@Product2,0) ProductRatio;

Execute this modified query. We will get the output as NULL because denominator contains value zero.

If we do not want null value in the output, we can use SQL ISNULL function to avoid null values in the output and display a definite value. This function replaces the null value in the expression1 and returns expression2 value as output.

Method 2: Using CASE statement to avoid divide by zero error

Secondly, you can use a CASE statement in SQL to return values based on specific conditions. The Case statement checks for the value of @Product2 parameter:

•  If the @Product2 value is zero, it returns null.
• If the above condition is not satisfied, it does the arithmetic operation (@Product1/@Product2) and returns the output.

DECLARE @Product1 INT;
DECLARE @Product2 INT;
SET @Product1 = 50;
SET @Product2 = 0;
SELECT CASE
WHEN @Product2 = 0
THEN NULL
ELSE @Product1 / @Product2
END AS ProductRatio;

We will get output as NULL.

Method 3: SET ARITHABORT OFF

By default, SQL Server has a default value of SET ARITHABORT is ON. We get SQL divide by zero error in the output using the default behavior.

The T-SQL syntax for controlling the ARITHABORT option is shown below:

SET ARITHABORT { ON | OFF }

•  Using ARITHABORT ON, the query will terminate with divide by zero message. It is the default behavior.

SET ARITHABORT ON — Default
SET ANSI_WARNINGS ON
DECLARE @Product1 INT;
DECLARE @Product2 INT;
SET @Product1 = 50;
SET @Product2 = 0;
SELECT @Product1 / @Product2 ProductRatio;

We get the SQL divide by zero error messages.

• Using ARITHABORT OFF, the batch will terminate and returns a null value. We need to use ARITHABORT in combination with SET ANSI_WARNINGS OFF to avoid the error message:

SET ARITHABORT OFF
SET ANSI_WARNINGS OFF
DECLARE @Product1 INT;
DECLARE @Product2 INT;
SET @Product1 = 50;
SET @Product2 = 0;
SELECT @Product1 / @Product2 ProductRatio;

We will get the output as NULL.

Finally, you can use the following query to check the current setting for the ARITHABORT parameter:

DECLARE @ARITHABORT VARCHAR(3) = ‘OFF’;
IF ( (64 & @@OPTIONS) = 64 ) SET @ARITHABORT = ‘ON’;
SELECT @ARITHABORT AS ARITHABORT;

The default ARITHABORT setting for SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) is ON. We can view it using SSMS Tools properties. Navigate to Tools -> Options -> Advanced.

We should not modify the value of ARITHABORT unless required. It might create performance issues, as well. It is better to use other methods for avoiding SQL divide by zero error.

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Conclusion

In short, we saw how our Support Techs resolve error ‘SQL Server divide by zero error encountered’