ABS function in SQL

ABS function in SQL

The ABS function in SQL is a mathematical function that returns the absolute value of a number. For example, the absolute value of -5 is 5, and the absolute value of 5 is also 5. The ABS function takes a single parameter, which is the number whose absolute value is to be returned.

To use the ABS function in SQL, you would include it in a SELECT statement, along with the column or expression whose absolute value you want to find.

For example, if you have a column named "amount" that contains both positive and negative numbers, you could use the ABS function to return only the absolute values, like this:

SELECT ABS(amount)
FROM my_table;

You could also use the ABS function in combination with other mathematical functions, such as in an expression that calculates the square root of the absolute value of a number:

SELECT SQRT(ABS(amount))
FROM my_table;

Another example would be to use the ABS function in a WHERE clause to find rows where the absolute value of a column is greater than a certain value, like this:

SELECT *
FROM my_table
WHERE ABS(amount) > 10;

In general, you would use the ABS function when you want to find the absolute value of a number in a SQL query. This could be useful in a variety of situations, such as when you want to ignore the sign of a number (positive or negative) and just focus on its magnitude.

Is != Or \<> better in SQL?

The != and \<> operators are both used to check for inequality in a SQL statement. They both have the same meaning and can be used interchangeably. However, some people prefer to use != because it is more widely used in other programming languages, while others prefer to use \<> because it is more visually distinctive and less likely to be confused with the equals operator (=).

In terms of performance, there is no significant difference between != and \<>, so you can choose the one that you prefer or that is more familiar to you. Ultimately, the choice of which operator to use is a matter of personal preference.

Conclusion

The ABS function in SQL is a mathematical function that returns the absolute value of a number. For example, the absolute value of -5 is 5, and the absolute value of 5 is also 5. The ABS function takes a single parameter, which is the number whose absolute value is to be returned.