MIN is an aggregate function that evaluates the minimum of
an expression over a set of rows (see Aggregates (set functions)).
MIN is allowed only on expressions that evaluate to built-in data types (including
CHAR, VARCHAR, DATE, TIME, etc.).
Syntax
MIN ( [ DISTINCT | ALL ] Expression )
The
DISTINCT and ALL qualifiers eliminate or retain duplicates, but these qualifiers
have no effect in a MIN expression. Only one DISTINCT aggregate expression
per
SelectExpression is
allowed. For example, the following query is not allowed:
SELECT COUNT (DISTINCT flying_time), MIN (DISTINCT miles)
FROM Flights
The Expression can contain multiple column
references or expressions, but it cannot contain another aggregate or subquery.
It must evaluate to a built-in data type. You can therefore call methods that
evaluate to built-in data types. (For example, a method that returns a java.lang.Integer or int evaluates
to an INTEGER.) If an expression evaluates to NULL, the aggregate skips that
value.
The type's comparison rules determine the minimum value. For
CHAR and VARCHAR,
the number of blank spaces at the end of the value can affect how MIN is evaluated.
For example, if the values 'z' and 'z ' are both stored in a column, you cannot
control which one will be returned as the minimum, because blank spaces are
ignored for character comparisons.
The
resulting data type is the same as the expression on which it operates (it
will never overflow).
-- NOT valid:
SELECT DISTINCT flying_time, MIN(DISTINCT miles) from Flights
-- valid:
SELECT COUNT(DISTINCT flying_time), MIN(DISTINCT miles) from Flights
-- find the earliest date:
SELECT MIN (flight_date) FROM FlightAvailability;
