Declare variable in SQLite and use it

Solution 1:

SQLite doesn't support native variable syntax, but you can achieve virtually the same using an in-memory temp table.

I've used the below approach for large projects and works like a charm.

    /* Create in-memory temp table for variables */
    BEGIN;

    PRAGMA temp_store = 2; /* 2 means use in-memory */
    CREATE TEMP TABLE _Variables(Name TEXT PRIMARY KEY, RealValue REAL, IntegerValue INTEGER, BlobValue BLOB, TextValue TEXT);

    /* Declaring a variable */
    INSERT INTO _Variables (Name) VALUES ('VariableName');

    /* Assigning a variable (pick the right storage class) */
    UPDATE _Variables SET IntegerValue = ... WHERE Name = 'VariableName';

    /* Getting variable value (use within expression) */
    ... (SELECT coalesce(RealValue, IntegerValue, BlobValue, TextValue) FROM _Variables WHERE Name = 'VariableName' LIMIT 1) ...

    DROP TABLE _Variables;
    END;

Solution 2:

For a read-only variable (that is, a constant value set once and used anywhere in the query), use a Common Table Expression (CTE).

WITH const AS (SELECT 'name' AS name, 10 AS more)
SELECT table.cost, (table.cost + const.more) AS newCost
FROM table, const 
WHERE table.name = const.name

SQLite WITH clause

Solution 3:

Herman's solution works, but it can be simplified because Sqlite allows to store any value type on any field.

Here is a simpler version that uses one Value field declared as TEXT to store any value:

CREATE TEMP TABLE IF NOT EXISTS Variables (Name TEXT PRIMARY KEY, Value TEXT);

INSERT OR REPLACE INTO Variables VALUES ('VarStr', 'Val1');
INSERT OR REPLACE INTO Variables VALUES ('VarInt', 123);
INSERT OR REPLACE INTO Variables VALUES ('VarBlob', x'12345678');

SELECT Value
  FROM Variables
 WHERE Name = 'VarStr'
UNION ALL
SELECT Value
  FROM Variables
 WHERE Name = 'VarInt'
UNION ALL
SELECT Value
  FROM Variables
 WHERE Name = 'VarBlob';