SQL ABS Function

The SQL ABS function is one of the SQL Mathematical Function which will return the absolute (Positive) value of the specified expression.

The basic syntax of the SQL Server ABS Function to find absolute value is:

SELECT ABS (Numeric_Expression)
FROM [Source]

For this SQL Server query, We are going to use the below shown data

SQL ABS Function Example 1

The SQL Server ABS Function is used to return the absolute positive value of any numeric value. The following query will show multiple ways to use ABS function.

-- Sql Server Absolute Value
DECLARE @i int
SET @i = -25.8

SELECT ABS(@i) AS [Absolute Value]

-- Calculating ABS directly
SELECT ABS(-27) AS [Absolute Value]

-- Calculating ABS directly
SELECT ABS(2 + 55 - 77) AS [Absolute Value]

OUTPUT

ANALYSIS

Below lines of code is used to declare Int variable and assigning the value.

DECLARE @i int
SET @i = -25.8

In the below statement, We used ABS function to find the absolute value of the variable @i (It means ABS(-25.8)). We also assigned new name to that result as ‘Absolute Value’ using ALIAS Column.

SELECT ABS(@i) AS [Absolute Value]

In the next statement, We used the SQL absolute value Function directly on the int value.

-- Calculating ABS directly
SELECT ABS(-27) AS [Absolute Value]

In the below statement, We used the ABS Function directly on the multiple values.

-- Calculating ABS directly
SELECT ABS(2 + 55 - 77) AS [Absolute Value]

It means

ABS(2 + 55 – 77)

ABS (-20) = 20

Sql Server ABS Function Example 2

The ABS Function also allows you to find the absolute values of a column values. In this example, We are going to find the absolute values for all the records present in [Service Grade] using this SQL absolute value Function.

-- SQL Absolute Value
SELECT [EnglishProductName]
      ,[Color]
      ,[StandardCost]
      ,[SalesAmount]
      ,[Service Grade]
      ,ABS([Service Grade]) AS [Absolute Value] 
  FROM [Mathemetical Functions]

OUTPUT