> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://upsolver.gitbook.io/content/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://upsolver.gitbook.io/content/reference-1/functions-and-operators/functions/comparison/least.md).

# LEAST

This function returns the smallest of the provided values.

## Syntax

```sql
LEAST(VALUE1 [, VALUE2, ..., VALUEN]) 
```

## Arguments

#### **`VALUE`**

Type: `double`, `bigint`, `string`, `timestamp`, `date`, `array`

A value of any of the above types, provided that all values are of the same type.

## Returns

Type: same as input

The smallest of the provided values.

When the input values are arrays, the smallest element between all the arrays is returned.

If any of the input values are `null`, the result is `null` as well.

***

## Examples

### Transformation job example

#### SQL

```sql
CREATE JOB function_operator_example
    ADD_MISSING_COLUMNS = true	
AS INSERT INTO default_glue_catalog.upsolver_samples.orders_transformed_data 
  MAP_COLUMNS_BY_NAME
    SELECT 
        LEAST(3.4, 66.0, 744.7) AS least_example1,
        LEAST('a', 'z', 'h', 'k') AS least_example2,
        LEAST(date '2022-08-14', date '2022-02-05', null::date) AS least_example3
    FROM default_glue_catalog.upsolver_samples.orders_raw_data 
    WHERE $commit_time BETWEEN run_start_time() AND run_end_time()
    LIMIT 1;
```

#### Query result

| least\_example1 | least\_example2 | least\_example3 |
| --------------- | --------------- | --------------- |
| 3.4             | a               | null            |

### Example with arrays

#### SQL

```sql
CREATE JOB function_operator_example
    ADD_MISSING_COLUMNS = true	
AS INSERT INTO default_glue_catalog.upsolver_samples.orders_transformed_data 
        MAP_COLUMNS_BY_NAME
    SELECT 
        LEAST(ARRAY[1.1, 0.2], ARRAY[3.0]) AS least_example1,
        LEAST(ARRAY[1.1, 0.2], ARRAY[3.0, null::double]) AS least_example2,
        LEAST([1.1, 0.2], [3.0], [null::double]) AS least_example3
    FROM default_glue_catalog.upsolver_samples.orders_raw_data 
    WHERE $commit_time BETWEEN run_start_time() AND run_end_time()
    LIMIT 1;
```

#### Query result

| least\_example1 | least\_example2 | least\_example3 |
| --------------- | --------------- | --------------- |
| 0.2             | 0.2             | null            |

Note that `least_example3` evaluates to `null` since the array containing only `null` is considered a null value.

For arrays containing null and non-null values, Upsolver ignores those null values when working with the array. For example, `least_example2` evaluates to `0.2` instead of `null`.


---

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