Adding multiple strings in WHERE clause - SQL - sql

Question

For the record I am a newbie when it comes to SQL. I am practicing and getting familiar with the syntax, and how it is all structured. I am using this website as a crash course in SQL. If you follow the link and take a look at question #5 the directions state to pull up data related only to three countries that of France, Germany, and Italy.
My dilemma is that I do not understand how multiple strings should be structured.
Here is my code:
SELECT name, population
FROM world
WHERE name = 'france';
The code above will produce a table with both selected columns, and the row that contains France's data, but I still need two other rows with data. However, when I try to edit it to achieve the results I need it won't work:
SELECT name, population
FROM world
WHERE name = 'germany' 'france' 'italy';
The code above only produces columns and the rows disappear. I need my table to include the name and population of all three countries. I have searched for a simple answer on how to properly add multiple strings and haven't found anything conclusive.
Despite my issue being relatively simple, I still seek help from all y'all, so please help!
Thank you!

Answer 1

Try to use IN operator, that allows you to make multiple values in WHERE clause.
Your code should look like this:
SELECT name, population
FROM world
WHERE name IN ('france','Germany','Italy');

Answer 2

You can put many criteria in a WHERE clause. Use AND and OR to combine them (and parentheses when needed such as in where a = 1 and (b = 2 or c = 3)). So your query can be written as
SELECT name, population
FROM world
WHERE name = 'germany' OR name = 'france' OR name = 'italy';
As has been shown, however, when looking for several values of one attribute you can replace all the ORs with an IN clause:
WHERE name IN ('germany', 'france', 'italy')
which is more readable and hence preferable.