MySQL Tutorial/Comparison Functions Operators/LEAST

LEAST() returns NULL if any argument is NULL

mysql>
mysql> SELECT LEAST(2,NULL);
+---------------+
| LEAST(2,NULL) |
+---------------+
|          NULL |
+---------------+
1 row in set (0.00 sec)

LEAST(value1,value2,...) returns the smallest (minimum-valued) argument withing two or more arguments

mysql>
mysql>
mysql>
mysql> SELECT LEAST(2,0);
+------------+
| LEAST(2,0) |
+------------+
|          0 |
+------------+
1 row in set (0.00 sec)

LEAST with float value

mysql>
mysql> SELECT LEAST(34.0,3.0,5.0,767.0);
+---------------------------+
| LEAST(34.0,3.0,5.0,767.0) |
+---------------------------+
|                       3.0 |
+---------------------------+
1 row in set (0.00 sec)
mysql>

Use LEAST with data in a table

mysql>
mysql>
mysql>
mysql> CREATE TABLE Employee(
    ->     id            int,
    ->     first_name    VARCHAR(15),
    ->     last_name     VARCHAR(15),
    ->     start_date    DATE,
    ->     end_date      DATE,
    ->     salary        FLOAT(8,2),
    ->     city          VARCHAR(10),
    ->     description   VARCHAR(15)
    -> );
Query OK, 0 rows affected (0.05 sec)
mysql>
mysql>
mysql> insert into Employee(id,first_name, last_name, start_date, end_Date,   salary,  City,       Description)
    ->              values (1,"Jason",    "Martin",  "19960725",  "20060725", 1234.56, "Toronto",  "Programmer");
Query OK, 1 row affected (0.01 sec)
mysql>
mysql> insert into Employee(id,first_name, last_name, start_date, end_Date,   salary,  City,       Description)
    ->               values(2,"Alison",   "Mathews",  "19760321", "19860221", 6661.78, "Vancouver","Tester");
Query OK, 1 row affected (0.00 sec)
mysql>
mysql> insert into Employee(id,first_name, last_name, start_date, end_Date,   salary,  City,       Description)
    ->               values(3,"James",    "Smith",    "19781212", "19900315", 6544.78, "Vancouver","Tester");
Query OK, 1 row affected (0.00 sec)
mysql>
mysql> insert into Employee(id,first_name, last_name, start_date, end_Date,   salary,  City,       Description)
    ->               values(4,"Celia",    "Rice",     "19821024", "19990421", 2344.78, "Vancouver","Manager");
Query OK, 1 row affected (0.00 sec)
mysql>
mysql> insert into Employee(id,first_name, last_name, start_date, end_Date,   salary,  City,       Description)
    ->               values(5,"Robert",   "Black",    "19840115", "19980808", 2334.78, "Vancouver","Tester");
Query OK, 1 row affected (0.02 sec)
mysql>
mysql> insert into Employee(id,first_name, last_name, start_date, end_Date,   salary,  City,       Description)
    ->               values(6,"Linda",    "Green",    "19870730", "19960104", 4322.78,"New York",  "Tester");
Query OK, 1 row affected (0.03 sec)
mysql>
mysql> insert into Employee(id,first_name, last_name, start_date, end_Date,   salary,  City,       Description)
    ->               values(7,"David",    "Larry",    "19901231", "19980212", 7897.78,"New York",  "Manager");
Query OK, 1 row affected (0.02 sec)
mysql>
mysql> insert into Employee(id,first_name, last_name, start_date, end_Date,   salary,  City,       Description)
    ->               values(8,"James",    "Cat",     "19960917",  "20020415", 1232.78,"Vancouver", "Tester");
Query OK, 1 row affected (0.00 sec)
mysql>
mysql> select * from Employee;
+------+------------+-----------+------------+------------+---------+-----------+-------------+
| id   | first_name | last_name | start_date | end_date   | salary  | city      | description |
+------+------------+-----------+------------+------------+---------+-----------+-------------+
|    1 | Jason      | Martin    | 1996-07-25 | 2006-07-25 | 1234.56 | Toronto   | Programmer  |
|    2 | Alison     | Mathews   | 1976-03-21 | 1986-02-21 | 6661.78 | Vancouver | Tester      |
|    3 | James      | Smith     | 1978-12-12 | 1990-03-15 | 6544.78 | Vancouver | Tester      |
|    4 | Celia      | Rice      | 1982-10-24 | 1999-04-21 | 2344.78 | Vancouver | Manager     |
|    5 | Robert     | Black     | 1984-01-15 | 1998-08-08 | 2334.78 | Vancouver | Tester      |
|    6 | Linda      | Green     | 1987-07-30 | 1996-01-04 | 4322.78 | New York  | Tester      |
|    7 | David      | Larry     | 1990-12-31 | 1998-02-12 | 7897.78 | New York  | Manager     |
|    8 | James      | Cat       | 1996-09-17 | 2002-04-15 | 1232.78 | Vancouver | Tester      |
+------+------------+-----------+------------+------------+---------+-----------+-------------+
8 rows in set (0.00 sec)
mysql>
mysql> select LEAST(salary, 5000) from Employee;
+---------------------+
| LEAST(salary, 5000) |
+---------------------+
|             1234.56 |
|             5000.00 |
|             5000.00 |
|             2344.78 |
|             2334.78 |
|             4322.78 |
|             5000.00 |
|             1232.78 |
+---------------------+
8 rows in set (0.00 sec)
mysql>
mysql> drop table Employee;
Query OK, 0 rows affected (0.00 sec)
mysql>

Using LEAST with string value

mysql>
mysql> SELECT LEAST("B","A","C");
+--------------------+
| LEAST("B","A","C") |
+--------------------+
| A                  |
+--------------------+
1 row in set (0.00 sec)