isnull vs is null

Question

I have noticed a number of queries at work and on SO are using limitations in the form:

isnull(name,\'\') <> \'\'

Is there a particul

Answer 1

It is to handle both the empty string and NULL. While it is good to be able to do with with one statement, isnull is proprietary syntax. I would write this using portable Standard SQL as

NULLIF(name, '') IS NOT NULL