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SQL SIGN Function

The SQL SIGN function is one of the SQL Mathematical function, which is used to return sign of the specified expression, and the sign may be Positive (+1), Negative (-1) or Zero (0).

SQL SIGN Function Syntax

The basic syntax of the SQL Server SIGN Function is as shown below:

SELECT SIGN (Numeric_Expression)
FROM [Source]

Numeric_Expression: This function accepts exact numeric or approximately numeric data types. Remember that it will not take the Bit data type.

  • If the Numeric_Expression argument is positive or negative zero, the SIGN function will return Zero as a result.
  • If the Numeric_Expression argument is Negative Number, the SIGN function will return Negative One(-1) as a result.
  • And if it is positive Number, the SIGN function returns Positive One(+1) as a result.

SQL SIGN Function Example 1

In this example, We are going to find the sign values of different data (positive and negative values) and display the output

DECLARE @i INT
SET @i = 10

SELECT SIGN(@i)AS [Sign Result 1]

-- Finding Degrees directly
SELECT SIGN(150) AS [Sign Result 2]
SELECT SIGN(14.25) AS [Sign Result 3]

SELECT SIGN(0) AS [Sign Result 4]
SELECT SIGN(-0) AS [Sign Result 5]

SELECT SIGN(-25) AS [Sign Result 6]
SELECT SIGN(-104.449) AS [Sign Result 7]
SQL SIGN Function 1

We are finding the Sign of @i. We used the SQL ALIAS Column to assign a new name to the SQL Server result as ‘Sign Result 1’.

SELECT SIGN(@i)AS [Sign Result 1]

In the below statement, We used SIGN Mathematical function directly on the positive values.

SELECT SIGN(150) AS [Sign Result 2]
SELECT SIGN(14.25) AS [Sign Result 3]

Next, We used SIGN function on positive and negative zero

SELECT SIGN(0) AS [Sign Result 4]
SELECT SIGN(-0) AS [Sign Result 5]

Next, We used SIGN function directly on the negative values

SELECT SIGN(-25) AS [Sign Result 6]
SELECT SIGN(-104.449) AS [Sign Result 7]

SIGN Function Example 2

In this example, We are going to find the sign of all the records present in the [Service Grade] column using the DEGREES Function.

SELECT [EnglishProductName]
      ,[Color]
      ,[StandardCost]
      ,[SalesAmount]
      ,[TaxAmt]
      ,[Service Grade]
      ,SIGN([Service Grade]) AS [Service_Sign]
  FROM [SQL Tutorial].[dbo].[Mathemetical Functions]
SQL SIGN Function 2

Filed Under: SQL