Handy MySQL function

Here is a simple function that can help coping with wrong database design, when you have a mix of NULLs and blank fields meaning the same, no value, which they shouldn't.

DELIMITER $$
 
DROP FUNCTION IF EXISTS `test`.`is_initial` $$
CREATE FUNCTION `test`.`is_initial` (f varchar(255)) RETURNS BOOL
BEGIN
 
 
SET @is_initial = false;
 
CASE f
WHEN NULL THEN SET @is_initial = TRUE;
WHEN '' THEN SET @is_initial = TRUE;
ELSE SET @is_initial = FALSE;
END CASE;
 
RETURN @is_initial;
 
 
END $$
 
DELIMITER ;