[Rudi Bruchez (rudi-bruchez)]

What's wrong

The "Result value" section of the ALL page says: "Returns TRUE when the comparison specified is TRUE for all pairs ... Otherwise returns FALSE." The SOME | ANY page says the same: "otherwise, returns FALSE."

When a NULL value takes part in the comparison and decides the result, both return UNKNOWN: neither the condition nor its negation is true. 1 < ALL (2, NULL) isn't FALSE, since NOT (1 < ALL (2, NULL)) isn't TRUE either. A reader who relies on "otherwise FALSE" writes NOT (x < ALL (...)) and gets no rows.

Evidence

SQL Server 2025 CU10 (17.0.5035.5), Linux container, Developer edition. No database needed; default SET options of sqlcmd -I (ANSI_NULLS ON).

SET NOCOUNT ON;
SELECT t.expr,
  CASE WHEN t.r = 1 THEN 'TRUE' WHEN t.r = 0 THEN 'FALSE' ELSE 'UNKNOWN' END AS result
FROM (VALUES
 ('1 < ALL (2, 3)',     CASE WHEN 1 < ALL (SELECT v FROM (VALUES (2),(3)) t(v)) THEN 1 WHEN NOT (1 < ALL (SELECT v FROM (VALUES (2),(3)) t(v))) THEN 0 END),
 ('1 < ALL (2, NULL)',  CASE WHEN 1 < ALL (SELECT v FROM (VALUES (2),(NULL)) t(v)) THEN 1 WHEN NOT (1 < ALL (SELECT v FROM (VALUES (2),(NULL)) t(v))) THEN 0 END),
 ('3 < ALL (2, NULL)',  CASE WHEN 3 < ALL (SELECT v FROM (VALUES (2),(NULL)) t(v)) THEN 1 WHEN NOT (3 < ALL (SELECT v FROM (VALUES (2),(NULL)) t(v))) THEN 0 END),
 ('1 < ALL (empty)',    CASE WHEN 1 < ALL (SELECT v FROM (VALUES (2)) t(v) WHERE v > 5) THEN 1 WHEN NOT (1 < ALL (SELECT v FROM (VALUES (2)) t(v) WHERE v > 5)) THEN 0 END),
 ('NULL < ALL (2, 3)',  CASE WHEN CAST(NULL AS int) < ALL (SELECT v FROM (VALUES (2),(3)) t(v)) THEN 1 WHEN NOT (CAST(NULL AS int) < ALL (SELECT v FROM (VALUES (2),(3)) t(v))) THEN 0 END),
 ('3 > ANY (2, NULL)',  CASE WHEN 3 > ANY (SELECT v FROM (VALUES (2),(NULL)) t(v)) THEN 1 WHEN NOT (3 > ANY (SELECT v FROM (VALUES (2),(NULL)) t(v))) THEN 0 END),
 ('1 > ANY (2, NULL)',  CASE WHEN 1 > ANY (SELECT v FROM (VALUES (2),(NULL)) t(v)) THEN 1 WHEN NOT (1 > ANY (SELECT v FROM (VALUES (2),(NULL)) t(v))) THEN 0 END),
 ('1 > ANY (2, 3)',     CASE WHEN 1 > ANY (SELECT v FROM (VALUES (2),(3)) t(v)) THEN 1 WHEN NOT (1 > ANY (SELECT v FROM (VALUES (2),(3)) t(v))) THEN 0 END),
 ('1 > ANY (empty)',    CASE WHEN 1 > ANY (SELECT v FROM (VALUES (2)) t(v) WHERE v > 5) THEN 1 WHEN NOT (1 > ANY (SELECT v FROM (VALUES (2)) t(v) WHERE v > 5)) THEN 0 END)
) t(expr, r);

Expression	Result
1 < ALL (2, 3)	TRUE
1 < ALL (2, NULL)	UNKNOWN
3 < ALL (2, NULL)	FALSE
1 < ALL (empty)	TRUE
NULL < ALL (2, 3)	UNKNOWN
3 > ANY (2, NULL)	TRUE
1 > ANY (2, NULL)	UNKNOWN
1 > ANY (2, 3)	FALSE
1 > ANY (empty)	FALSE

Observed: UNKNOWN for 1 < ALL (2, NULL), NULL < ALL (2, 3) and 1 > ANY (2, NULL). Expected per the current text: FALSE.

Change

In both pages, keeps the TRUE condition, gives the FALSE condition, and says that the result is otherwise UNKNOWN. The text doesn't tie UNKNOWN to NULL values: 1 = ANY (1, NULL) is TRUE, and with ANSI_NULLS OFF comparisons with NULL can be TRUE or FALSE.

[prmerger-automator]

Rudi Bruchez (@rudi-bruchez) : Thanks for your contribution! The author(s) and reviewer(s) have been notified to review your proposed change.

[learn-build-service-prod]

Learn Build status updates of commit 9aebc6e:

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File	Status	Preview URL	Details
docs/t-sql/language-elements/all-transact-sql.md	✅Succeeded
docs/t-sql/language-elements/some-any-transact-sql.md	✅Succeeded

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