Introduction to SQL aggregate functions
An aggregate function allows you to perform a calculation on a set
of values to return a single scalar value. We often use aggregate functions
with the GROUP BY and HAVING clauses of the SELECT statement.
The following are the most commonly used SQL aggregate functions:
AVG – calculates the average of a set of values.
COUNT – counts rows in a specified table or view.
MIN – gets the minimum value in a set of values.
MAX – gets the maximum value in a set of values.
SUM – calculates the sum of values.
Notice that all aggregate functions above ignore NULL values except for
the COUNT function.
SQL aggregate functions syntax
To call an aggregate function, you use the following syntax:
aggregate_function (DISTINCT | ALL expression)
Let’s examine the syntax above in greater detail:
First, specify an aggregate function that you want to use
e.g., MIN, MAX, AVG, SUM or COUNT.
Second, put DISTINCT or ALL modifier followed by an expression inside
parentheses. If you explicitly use the DISTINCT modifier, the
aggregate function ignores duplicate values and only consider the
unique values. If you use the ALL modifier, the aggregate function
uses all values for calculation or evaluation. The ALL modifier is
used by default if you do not specify any modifier explicitly.
SQL aggregate function examples
Let’s take a look some examples of using SQL aggregate functions.
COUNT function example
To get the number of products in the products table, you use
the COUNT function as follows:
SELECT
COUNT(*)FROM products;
AVG function example
To calculate the average units in stock of the products, you use
the AVG function as follows:
SELECT
AVG(unitsinstock) FROM products;
To calculate units in stock by product category, you use the AVG function
with the GROUP BY clause as follows:
SELECT
categoryid, AVG(unitsinstock) FROM products GROUP BY categoryid;
SUM function example
To calculate the sum of units in stock by product category, you use
the SUM function with the GROUP BY clause as the following query:
SELECT
categoryid, SUM(unitsinstock)
FROM products GROUP BY categoryid;
.
MIN function example
To get the minimum units in stock of products in the products table, you
use the MIN function as follows:
SELECT
MIN(unitsinstock)
FROM
products;
MAX function example
To get the maximum units in stock of products in the products table, you
use the MAX function as shown in the following query:
SELECT
MAX(unitsinstock)
FROM
products;
In this tutorial, we have introduced you to the SQL aggregate functions
including the most commonly used functions: AVG, COUNT, MIN, MAX,
and SUM.
