---
title: "Columns that Contain a Null Value By Default | Microsoft Docs"
ms.custom: ""
ms.date: "06/13/2017"
ms.prod: "sql-server-2014"
ms.reviewer: ""
ms.technology: xml
ms.topic: conceptual
helpviewer_keywords: 
  - "columns [XML in SQL Server], null default value"
ms.assetid: 9381c07f-6887-4a62-9730-32661f9aa87c
author: MightyPen
ms.author: genemi
manager: craigg
---
# Columns that Contain a Null Value By Default
  By default, a null value in a column maps to the absence of the attribute, node, or element. This default behavior can be overwritten by requesting element-centric XML using the ELEMENTS directive and specifying XSINIL to request adding elements for NULL values, as shown in the following query:  
  
```  
SELECT EmployeeID as "@EmpID",   
       FirstName  as "EmpName/First",   
       MiddleName as "EmpName/Middle",   
       LastName   as "EmpName/Last"  
FROM   HumanResources.Employee E, Person.Contact C  
WHERE  E.EmployeeID = C.ContactID  
AND    E.EmployeeID=1  
FOR XML PATH, ELEMENTS XSINIL  
```  
  
 The following shows the result. Note that if XSINIL is not specified, the <`Middle`> element will be absent.  
  
```  
<row xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" EmpID="1">  
  <EmpName>  
    <First>Gustavo</First>  
    <Middle xsi:nil="true" />  
    <Last>Achong</Last>  
  </EmpName>  
</row>  
```  
  
## See Also  
 [Use PATH Mode with FOR XML](use-path-mode-with-for-xml.md)