How the ABS() function works in Mariadb?

The ABS() function in MariaDB is a straightforward yet essential mathematical function used to return the absolute value of a number.

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The ABS() function in MariaDB is a straightforward yet essential mathematical function used to return the absolute value of a number, which means it converts any negative number to its positive equivalent.

Syntax

The syntax for the MariaDB ABS() function is as follows:

ABS(number)

The number parameter is the numeric value for which you want to find the absolute value. The function returns the absolute value of number.

Examples

Absolute Value of a Positive Number

To illustrate the use of ABS() with a positive number:

SELECT ABS(5);

5

The output is 5, as the absolute value of a positive number is the number itself.

Absolute Value of a Negative Number

This example demonstrates the ABS() function with a negative number:

SELECT ABS(-5);

5

The output is 5, showing how ABS() converts a negative number to its positive equivalent.

Absolute Value of Zero

Applying ABS() to zero yields:

SELECT ABS(0);

0

The output is 0, as the absolute value of zero is zero.

Absolute Value in an Arithmetic Expression

Using ABS() in an arithmetic expression:

SELECT ABS(-5 + 3);

2

The output is 2, which is the absolute value of the result of the expression -5 + 3.

Absolute Value from a Table Column

If we need to use ABS() on a table column, we first create a simple table:

DROP TABLE IF EXISTS numbers;
CREATE TABLE numbers (value INT);
INSERT INTO numbers (value) VALUES (-5), (3), (0);

Then, we can apply ABS() to the column:

SELECT ABS(value) FROM numbers;

5
3
0

This returns the absolute values of the numbers in the value column.

Here are a few functions related to MariaDB’s ABS():

  • MariaDB CEIL() function is used to round up a number to the nearest integer.
  • MariaDB FLOOR() function rounds down a number to the nearest integer.
  • MariaDB ROUND() function is used to round a number to a specified number of decimal places.

Conclusion

The ABS() function is a fundamental part of numerical operations in MariaDB, providing a simple way to work with the absolute values of numbers. Its usage is crucial in scenarios where only the magnitude of a number is needed, irrespective of its sign. Whether you’re working with raw numbers or data from tables, ABS() is an indispensable tool in your SQL toolkit.