SQL Functions
SQL has many built-in functions for performing calculations on data.
SQL Aggregate Functions
SQL aggregate functions return a single value, calculated from values in a column.
Useful aggregate functions:
AVG() - Returns the average value
COUNT() - Returns the number of rows
FIRST() - Returns the first value
LAST() - Returns the last value
MAX() - Returns the largest value
MIN() - Returns the smallest value
SUM() - Returns the sum
SQL Scalar functions
SQL scalar functions return a single value, based on the input value.
Useful scalar functions:
UCASE() - Converts a field to upper case
LCASE() - Converts a field to lower case
MID() - Extract characters from a text field
LEN() - Returns the length of a text field
ROUND() - Rounds a numeric field to the number of decimals specified
NOW() - Returns the current system date and time
FORMAT() - Formats how a field is to be displayed
Tip: The aggregate functions and the scalar functions will be explained in details in the next
chapters.
Demo Database_AVG()
In this tutorial we will use the well-known Northwind sample database.
Below is a selection from the "Products" table:
ProductI
D
ProductName
SupplierI CategoryI
D
D
Unit
Price
Chais
10 boxes x 20 bags 18
Chang
24 - 12 oz bottles
Aniseed Syrup
12 - 550 ml bottles 10
Chef Anton's Cajun Seasoning 2
48 - 6 oz jars
21.35
Chef Anton's Gumbo Mix
36 boxes
25
SQL Queries: Scearios
The following SQL statement gets the average value of the "Price" column from the
"Products" table:
SELECT AVG(Price) AS PriceAverage FROM Products;
19
The following SQL statement selects the "ProductName" and "Price" records that have an
above average price:
SELECT ProductName, Price FROM Products
WHERE Price>(SELECT AVG(Price) FROM Products);
Demo Database_Count()
In this tutorial we will use the well-known Northwind sample database.
Below is a selection from the "Orders" table:
OrderID
CustomerID
EmployeeID
OrderDate
ShipperID
10265
1996-07-25
10266
87
1996-07-26
10267
25
1996-07-29
SQL Queries: Scearios
The following SQL statement counts the number of orders from "CustomerID"=7 from the
"Orders" table:
SELECT COUNT(CustomerID) AS OrdersFromCustomerID7 FROM Orders
WHERE CustomerID=7;
The following SQL statement counts the total number of orders in the "Orders"
table:
SELECT COUNT(*) AS NumberOfOrders FROM Orders;
The following SQL statement counts the number of unique customers in the
"Orders" table:
SELECT COUNT(DISTINCT CustomerID) AS NumberOfCustomers FROM
Orders;
Demo Database_First()
In this tutorial we will use the well-known Northwind sample database.
Below is a selection from the "Customers" table:
Custom
erID
CustomerName
ContactNa
me
Address
City
PostalC Count
ode
ry
12209
Germa
ny
Ana Trujillo
Avda. de la
Mxico
05021
Constitucin 2222 D.F.
Mexico
Antonio Moreno
Taquera
Antonio
Moreno
Mataderos 2312
Mxico
05023
D.F.
Mexico
Around the Horn
Thomas
Hardy
120 Hanover Sq.
London WA1 1DP UK
Berglunds snabbkp
Christina
Berglund
Berguvsvgen 8
Lule
Alfreds Futterkiste
Maria Anders Obere Str. 57
Ana Trujillo
Emparedados y
helados
Berlin
S-958 22
Swede
n
SQL Queries: Scearios
The following SQL statement selects the first value of the "CustomerName" column from the
"Customers" table:
SELECT FIRST(CustomerName) AS FirstCustomer FROM Customers;
Demo Database_Last()
In this tutorial we will use the well-known Northwind sample database.
Below is a selection from the "Customers" table:
Custom
erID
CustomerName
ContactNa
me
Address
City
PostalC Count
ode
ry
12209
Germa
ny
Ana Trujillo
Avda. de la
Mxico
05021
Constitucin 2222 D.F.
Mexico
Antonio Moreno
Taquera
Antonio
Moreno
Mataderos 2312
Mxico
05023
D.F.
Mexico
Around the Horn
Thomas
Hardy
120 Hanover Sq.
London WA1 1DP UK
Berglunds snabbkp
Christina
Berglund
Berguvsvgen 8
Lule
Alfreds Futterkiste
Maria Anders Obere Str. 57
Ana Trujillo
Emparedados y
helados
SQL Queries: Scearios
Berlin
S-958 22
Swede
n
The following SQL statement selects the last value of the "CustomerName"
column from the "Customers" table:
SELECT LAST(CustomerName) AS LastCustomer FROM Customers;
Demo Database_MAX()
In this tutorial we will use the well-known Northwind sample database.
Below is a selection from the "Products" table:
ProductI
D
ProductName
SupplierI CategoryI
D
D
Unit
Price
Chais
10 boxes x 20 bags 18
Chang
24 - 12 oz bottles
Aniseed Syrup
12 - 550 ml bottles 10
Chef Anton's Cajun Seasoning 2
48 - 6 oz jars
21.35
Chef Anton's Gumbo Mix
36 boxes
25
19
SQL Queries: Scearios
The following SQL statement gets the largest value of the "Price" column from the "Products"
table:
SELECT MAX(Price) AS HighestPrice FROM Products;
Demo Database_MIN()
In this tutorial we will use the well-known Northwind sample database.
Below is a selection from the "Products" table:
ProductI
D
ProductName
SupplierI CategoryI
D
D
Unit
Price
Chais
10 boxes x 20 bags 18
Chang
24 - 12 oz bottles
Aniseed Syrup
12 - 550 ml bottles 10
Chef Anton's Cajun Seasoning 2
48 - 6 oz jars
21.35
Chef Anton's Gumbo Mix
36 boxes
25
SQL Queries: Scearios
The following SQL statement gets the smallest value of the "Price" column from the
"Products" table:
SELECT MIN(Price) AS SmallestOrderPrice FROM Products;
19
Demo Database_SUM()
In this tutorial we will use the well-known Northwind sample database.
Below is a selection from the "OrderDetails" table:
OrderDetailID
OrderID
ProductID
Quantity
10248
11
12
10248
42
10
10248
72
10249
14
10249
51
40
SQL Queries: Scearios
The following SQL statement finds the sum of all the "Quantity" fields for the
"OrderDetails" table:
SELECT SUM(Quantity) AS TotalItemsOrdered FROM OrderDetails;
