MySQL - UPDATE multiple rows with different values in one query

I am trying to understand how to UPDATE multiple rows with different values and I just don't get it. The solution is everywhere but to me it looks difficult to understand.

For instance, three updates into 1 query:

UPDATE table_users
SET cod_user = '622057'
    , date = '12082014'
WHERE user_rol = 'student'
    AND cod_office = '17389551'; 

UPDATE table_users
SET cod_user = '2913659'
    , date = '12082014'
WHERE user_rol = 'assistant'
    AND cod_office = '17389551'; 

UPDATE table_users
SET cod_user = '6160230'
    , date = '12082014'
WHERE user_rol = 'admin'
    AND cod_office = '17389551'; 

I read an example, but I really don't understand how to make the query. i.e:

UPDATE table_to_update
SET cod_user= IF(cod_office = '17389551','622057','2913659','6160230')
    ,date = IF(cod_office = '17389551','12082014')
WHERE ?? IN (??) ;

I'm not entirely clear how to do the query if there are multiple condition in the WHERE and in the IF condition..any ideas?

You can do it this way:

UPDATE table_users
    SET cod_user = (case when user_role = 'student' then '622057'
                         when user_role = 'assistant' then '2913659'
                         when user_role = 'admin' then '6160230'
                    end),
        date = '12082014'
    WHERE user_role in ('student', 'assistant', 'admin') AND
          cod_office = '17389551';

I don't understand your date format. Dates should be stored in the database using native date and time types.

MySQL allows a more readable way to combine multiple updates into a single query. This seems to better fit the scenario you describe, is much easier to read, and avoids those difficult-to-untangle multiple conditions.

INSERT INTO table_users (cod_user, date, user_rol, cod_office)
VALUES
('622057', '12082014', 'student', '17389551'),
('2913659', '12082014', 'assistant','17389551'),
('6160230', '12082014', 'admin', '17389551')
ON DUPLICATE KEY UPDATE
 cod_user=VALUES(cod_user), date=VALUES(date)

This assumes that the user_rol, cod_office combination is a primary key. If only one of these is the primary key, then add the other field to the UPDATE list. If neither of them is a primary key (that seems unlikely) then this approach will always create new records - probably not what is wanted.

However, this approach makes prepared statements easier to build and more concise.

You can use a CASE statement to handle multiple if/then scenarios:

UPDATE table_to_update 
SET  cod_user= CASE WHEN user_rol = 'student' THEN '622057'
                   WHEN user_rol = 'assistant' THEN '2913659'
                   WHEN user_rol = 'admin' THEN '6160230'
               END
    ,date = '12082014'
WHERE user_rol IN ('student','assistant','admin')
  AND cod_office = '17389551';

UPDATE table_name
SET cod_user = 
    CASE 
    WHEN user_rol = 'student' THEN '622057'
    WHEN user_rol = 'assistant' THEN '2913659'
    WHEN user_rol = 'admin' THEN '6160230'
    END, date = '12082014'

WHERE user_rol IN ('student','assistant','admin')
AND cod_office = '17389551';

To Extend on @Trevedhek answer,

In case the update has to be done with non-unique keys, 4 queries will be need

NOTE: This is not transaction-safe

This can be done using a temp table.

Step 1: Create a temp table keys and the columns you want to update

CREATE TEMPORARY TABLE  temp_table_users
(
    cod_user varchar(50)
    , date varchar(50)
    , user_rol varchar(50)
    ,  cod_office varchar(50)
) ENGINE=MEMORY

Step 2: Insert the values into the temp table

Step 3: Update the original table

UPDATE table_users t1
JOIN temp_table_users tt1 using(user_rol,cod_office)
SET 
t1.cod_office = tt1.cod_office
t1.date = tt1.date

Step 4: Drop the temp table

In php, you use multi_query method of mysqli instance.

$sql = "SELECT COUNT(*) AS _num FROM test;
        INSERT INTO test(id) VALUES (1); 
        SELECT COUNT(*) AS _num FROM test; ";

$mysqli->multi_query($sql);

comparing result to transaction, insert, case methods in update 30,000 raw.

Transaction: 5.5194580554962
Insert: 0.20669293403625
Case: 16.474853992462
Multi: 0.0412278175354

As you can see, multiple statements query is more efficient than the highest answer.

Just in case if you get error message like this:

PHP Warning:  Error while sending SET_OPTION packet

You may need to increase the max_allowed_packet in mysql config file.

UPDATE Table1 SET col1= col2 FROM (SELECT col2, col3 FROM Table2) as newTbl WHERE col4= col3

Here col4 & col1 are in Table1. col2 & col3 are in Table2
I Am trying to update each col1 where col4 = col3 different value for each row

I did it this way:

<update id="updateSettings" parameterType="PushSettings">
    <foreach collection="settings" item="setting">
        UPDATE push_setting SET status = #{setting.status}
        WHERE type = #{setting.type} AND user_id = #{userId};
    </foreach>
</update>

where PushSettings is

public class PushSettings {

	private List<PushSetting> settings;
	private String userId;
}

it works fine