min_by

Returns the value of x associated with the minimum value of y.

For example, SELECT min_by(subject, exam_result) FROM exam; is to return the subject that has the lowest exam score.

This function is supported from v2.5.

Syntax

min_by(x,y)

Parameters

• x: an expression of any type.
• y: an expression of a type that can be ordered.

Return value

Returns a value that has the same type as x.

Usage notes

• y must be a sortable type. If you use an unsortable type of y, such as bitmap or hll, an error is returned.
• If y contains a null value, the row that corresponds to the null value is ignored.
• If more than one value of x has the same minimum value of y, this function returns the first value of x encountered.

Examples

1. Create a table exam.

   CREATE TABLE exam (
       subject_id INT,
       subject STRING,
       exam_result INT
   ) DISTRIBUTED BY HASH(`subject_id`);

2. Insert values into this table and query data from this table.

   insert into exam values
   (1,'math',90),
   (2,'english',70),
   (3,'physics',95),
   (4,'chemistry',85),
   (5,'music',95),
   (6,'biology',null);
   
   select * from exam order by subject_id;
   +------------+-----------+-------------+
   | subject_id | subject   | exam_result |
   +------------+-----------+-------------+
   |          1 | math      |          90 |
   |          2 | english   |          70 |
   |          3 | physics   |          95 |
   |          4 | chemistry |          85 |
   |          5 | music     |          95 |
   |          6 | biology   |        null |
   +------------+-----------+-------------+
   6 rows in set (0.03 sec)

3. Obtain the subject that has the lowest score. The subject english that has the lowest score 70 is returned.

   SELECT min_by(subject, exam_result) FROM exam;
   +------------------------------+
   | min_by(subject, exam_result) |
   +------------------------------+
   | english                      |
   +------------------------------+
   1 row in set (0.01 sec)