ABS

Compatibility

ABS(f)
Engine	OK	Alternative
ingres	Yes
mysql	Yes
oracle	Yes
postgres	Yes
sqlserver	Yes

ABS

ABS returns the absolute value. The output is positive even if the input is negative:

ABS(x) = x if x>=0
 ABS(x) = -x if x<0

ABS can be useful for testing values that are "close". For example this query shows each country that has area that is roughly 70 thousand. The value 70000 is the target value, 500 is the "tolerance" so the test ABS(area-70000)<500 tests that the area is between 70000-500 and 70000+500. That is 69500<area<70500

SELECT name, area FROM bbc
 WHERE ABS(area-70000)<500

See also

• CASE statement

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