One of the key features of SQL is its ability to perform aggregate functions and group data, allowing us to extract meaningful insights from large datasets. In this article, we'll dive into some of the most commonly used aggregate functions and explore how grouping can enhance data analysis.
COUNT
The COUNT
function is fundamental for understanding the size of a dataset.
Returns how many rows are in a column
If you apply it to a specific column, it returns non-NULL values.
SUM
Adds values in a particular column.
Sum only works with numeric values.
MIN & MAX
Usually helps find the lowest and highest values respectively
They work not only with numeric data but also with non-numeric values like dates and strings. Additionally, these functions ignore NULL values, allowing you to focus on the actual data ranges.
Min lowest number, earliest date and alphabetically whilemax is opposite.
AVG
calculates the average or mean of all rows in a column.
GROUP BY
Used to aggregate data within subsets of the data.
Any column not in the SELECT
statement should be in the GROUP BY
clause.
If the grouping column contains a row with NULL
values it will be returned as a group.
goes between WHERE
and ORDER BY
You can group by multiple columns at once.
HAVING
While the WHERE
clause filters data before aggregation, the HAVING
clause filters data after aggregation. It helps you narrow down results based on aggregated conditions.
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