Syntax options: WHEN literal | WHEN NULL The literal or NULL value of the WHEN clause that SQL compares with the value expression of the CASE clause. Most CASE control statements include a set of WHEN clauses. When the values of the WHEN and CASE clauses match, SQL executes the SQL statements associated with that WHEN clause. Control then drops out of the CASE control statement and returns to the next SQL statement after the END CASE clause.