SQL & PL/SQL

Hi all,

i'm asking how to manage nulls value in a pl sql procedure in a better way;

I have this fragment of a store procedure pl/sql

w_circ_1 := TH_PKG.GET_CIRC_TCD(P_Param);

w_circ_2 := TH_PKG.GET_CIRC_TW(P_Param);

IF val in (w_circ_1,w_circ_2 ) then

     --do something

else

    --do otherthing

end if;

and

w_circ_1 := nvl(TH_PKG.GET_CIRC_TCD(P_Param), '*');

w_circ_2 := nvl(TH_PKG.GET_CIRC_TW(P_Param), '*');

IF val in (w_circ_1,w_circ_2 ) then

    --do something

else

   --do otherthing

end if;

So in the second block the nulls value are substituted with an *, and in this way the IF statment make a comparision using the in operator with (*,*).

while in the first case the compare as it was (null,null);

I 've seen that both case works correctely, but I'm asking if there is one that is better from the other and way.

thanks really much