MIN function
MIN function operates on a group of rows and return one row of output.
You can use the MIN function with any valid expression.
For example, you can use the MIN() with numbers, strings, and datetimes.
Null values are ignored by MIN.
You can use the DISTINCT keyword to exclude duplicate entries.
CREATE TABLE EMP (EMPNO NUMBER(4) NOT NULL,
ENAME VARCHAR2(10),
HIREDATE DATE);
INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (1, 'SMITH', TO_DATE('17-DEC-1980', 'DD-MON-YYYY'));
INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (2, 'ALLEN', TO_DATE('20-FEB-1981', 'DD-MON-YYYY'));
INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (3, 'WARD', TO_DATE('22-FEB-1981', 'DD-MON-YYYY'));
INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (4, 'JONES', TO_DATE('2-APR-1981', 'DD-MON-YYYY'));
INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (5, 'MARTIN',TO_DATE('28-SEP-1981', 'DD-MON-YYYY'));
SQL> select min(empno) from emp;
MIN(EMPNO)
----------
1
SQL>
Using MIN with date value:
SQL> select min(HIREDATE) from emp;
MIN(HIRED
---------
17-DEC-80
SQL>
When MIN() is working on strings, the strings are ordered alphabetically with the minimum string being at the top of the list.
SQL> select min(ename) from emp;
MIN(ENAME)
----------
ALLEN
SQL>
Using the MIN function with the group by clause:
CREATE TABLE EMP (EMPNO NUMBER(4) NOT NULL,
ENAME VARCHAR2(10),
JOB VARCHAR2(9),
SAL NUMBER(7, 2),
DEPTNO NUMBER(2));
INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (1, 'SMITH', 'CLERK', 800, 20);
INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (2, 'ALLEN', 'SALESMAN', 1600, 30);
INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (3, 'WARD', 'SALESMAN', 1250, 30);
INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (4, 'JONES', 'MANAGER', 2975, 20);
INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (5, 'MARTIN','SALESMAN', 1250, 30);
INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (6, 'BLAKE', 'MANAGER', 2850, 30);
INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (7, 'CLARK', 'MANAGER', 2850, 10);
INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (8, 'SCOTT', 'ANALYST', 3000, 20);
INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (9, 'KING', 'PRESIDENT',3000, 10);
INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (10,'TURNER','SALESMAN', 1500, 30);
INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (11,'ADAMS', 'CLERK', 1500, 20);
SQL> select min(sal) from emp group by deptno;
MIN(SAL)
----------
1250
800
2850
SQL>