Introduction

In SQL Programming, the MAX() keyword plays an important role when it comes to retrieving the maximum value from a specific column in a table. It is commonly used in database queries to find the highest value among a set of data. In this blog post, we will explore the SQL MAX() keyword and also its usage in different scenarios. At the end of this blog you will have a solid understanding of how to effectively use the MAX keyword to retrieve maximum values in SQL.

Let’s First Understand What is SQL MAX Keyword?

What is the SQL MAX Keyword?

The MAX() keyword in SQL is an aggregate function that allows you to find the maximum value within a column of a table. It is commonly used with SELECT statements to retrieve the highest value present in a specified column.

Syntax of the MAX() Function:

In this syntax, ‘column_name’ represents the column you want to retrieve the max value from and ‘table_name’ is the name of the table.

Let’s take an example to better understand the concept.

Consider a table named “Employee” with the following structure:

Table Name: Employee

This is a database of a company with dummy employee’s data. Take a look at this table. With the help of this table, we will understand each MAX() Function query one by one. 

To see all details Of Table used Command – 

In this example, the “Employee” table contains information about employees, including their ID, name, department, and salary.

Retrieving the Maximum Value from a Single Column

To find the maximum value from a single column, you can use the MAX() Function 

Syntax:

For Example : 

The MAX() function retrieves the highest salary value from the “Salary” column. 

How To Use Max() Function with GROUP BY Clause

When working with grouped data, you can combine the MAX keyword with the GROUP BY clause to find the maximum value for each group. This is particularly useful when you want to retrieve the maximum value for specific categories or groups within a table. 

Syntax:

For Example: 

Let’s assume that we want to determine the highest pay for each department.  We can use the GROUP BY clause to group the data by the “Department” column and then apply the MAX() function to retrieve the highest salary within each department. 

Output:

How To Use Max() Function with HAVING Clause

Let’s First understand What is HAVING CLAUSE & Why Use HAVING CLAUSE?

The HAVING clause is useful for filtering the grouped results based on aggregate functions like MAX(). It allows you to apply conditions to the aggregated data and retrieve the desired subset of results.

Syntax: 

Let’s say we want to find the departments where the maximum salary is greater than or equal to 55000. We can use the MAX() function along with the HAVING clause to filter the results based on the condition. 

Here’s an example query:

Output:

How To Use Max() Function with WHERE Clause

The WHERE clause in SQL is used to filter rows based on specified conditions. It allows you to selectively retrieve data that meets certain criteria. 

WHERE clause with the syntax:

Here is an example of how to use the WHERE clause & the MAX() function: 

Output: 

How To Use MAX() Function with Order By Clause

Here is the Step-by-Step Guide to use MAX() Function with Order By Clause.

1. Retrieve the maximum value using the MAX() function.
2. Sort the result set in descending order or ascending order using the ORDER BY clause.

Here is an example of how to combine the ORDER BY clause & the MAX() function:

Output: 

FAQ’S

What Points Need To Take Care Using Max() Function

• Data Type: Ensure the appropriate data type is used.
• Null Values: Note that NULL values are ignored.
• Grouping: Define grouping correctly when using GROUP BY.
• Multiple Columns: Apply MAX() to one column at a time.
• Precision and Scale: Consider precision and scale for numeric types.
• Performance: Optimize performance by indexing the column.

What is the data type of MAX () function in SQL?

MAX() function is an aggregate function in SQL. Other common aggregate functions in SQL include MIN(), SUM(), AVG(), and COUNT().

Is the MAX() function applicable to all data types in SQL?

The MAX() function can be used with numeric and date/time data types, such as 

• INTEGER
• DECIMAL
• FLOAT
• DATE
• TIMESTAMP

However, it cannot be used with text/string data types, such as VARCHAR or TEXT.

Conclusion 

In this blog, we covered the SQL MAX() Function, its syntax with examples. We discussed how to retrieve the maximum value from a single column, multiple columns, and in combination with the GROUP BY clause. Also we covered how to use MAX() Function with different clauses such as HAVING Clause, WHERE Clause and Order By Clause. With this knowledge, you can confidently utilize the MAX() function in your SQL queries to retrieve the highest values from your database tables.

Technogeeks is an excellent learning platform for Learning SQL. Enroll to kickstart your journey as a SQL developer.

Checkout our courses on the SQL below

👉 https://technogeekscs.com/database-development-certification-courses 👈

👉 https://technogeekscs.com/courses/sql-training-in-pune/👈