SQL ABS: Returns the Absolute Value of a Number

The SQL ABS function calculates the absolute value of a number or the result of an expression that evaluates to a number.

Syntax

ABS (number | expression)Code language: SQL (Structured Query Language) (sql)

Arguments

number | expression
Number or expression that evaluates to a number.

Return Type

ABS returns the same data type as its argument.

Examples

The following statement calculates the absolute value of -100:

SELECT abs(-100);

abs
-------
100
(1 row)

The following example shows how to calculate the absolute value of an expression:

select abs (100-300);

abs
-------
200
(1 row)