UPDATE multiple rows with different values in one query in MySQL

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][1] 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? [1]: https://web.archive.org/web/20161027063005/http://www.karlrixon.co.uk/writing/update-multiple-rows-with-different-values-and-a-single-sql-query/