MySQL IN() for two value/array?

Question

I'm having trouble finding a better way to search MySQL for a pair of values in a table. I have the value pairs in an array, and would like to duplicate the IN() function, but for more than 1 value.

For example purposed; I have the following 3 pairs:

foo,1
boo,2
goo,3

The current solution puts me at:

SELECT * FROM [table] WHERE 
(column1 = 'foo' AND column2 = 1) OR
(column1 = 'boo' AND column2 = 2) OR
(column1 = 'goo' AND column2 = 3);

I'd like to think there's a more "sexy" solution seeing that I could have as many as a hundred pairs and having that may ORs kind of makes me nauseous. Thanks!!!

Answer 1

SELECT  *
FROM    foo
WHERE   (column1, column2) IN (('foo', 1), ('bar', 2))

This syntax may be confusing, and it may be more readable to replace it with:

SELECT  *
FROM    foo
WHERE   ROW(column1, column2) IN (ROW('foo', 1), ROW('bar', 2))

I'm used to the former one, though :)

Answer 2

If you can get your values into a temp table (you only need the two columns) easily and quickly, you can just INNER JOIN your way there. If not, you'll have to use @Quassnoi version.