SQLite MIN() Function

The SQLite multi-argument MIN() function returns the argument with the minimum value, or return NULL if any argument is NULL. The multi-argument MIN() function searches its arguments from left to right for an argument that defines a collating function and uses that collating function for all string comparisons. If none of the arguments to MIN() define a collating function, then the BINARY collating function is used.

Note: When single argument is used, MIN() function operates as an aggregate function.

Syntax

MIN(expr1, expr2, ... expr_n)

Parameters

Return Value

Returns the smallest value in a list of expressions.

Example 1:

The example below shows the usage of MIN() function.

SELECT MIN(20, 30, 60, 10);
Result: 10

SELECT MIN('20', '30', '60', '10');
Result: '10'

SELECT MIN('D', 'G', 'X', 'A');
Result: 'A'

SELECT MIN('Alpha', 'Beta', 'Delta', 'Gamma');
Result: 'Alpha'

SELECT MIN('Alpha1', 'Alpha2', 'Alpha3', 'Alpha4');
Result: 'Alpha1'

SELECT MIN(20, 30, 60, 10, NULL);
Result: NULL

Example 2:

Consider a database table called Sample with the following records:

To get the smallest value, when values of column x, column y and column z are compared, the following query can be used:

SELECT *, MIN(x, y, z) AS MIN_Value FROM Sample;

This will produce the result as shown below: