Oracle PL/SQL/Numeric Math Functions/least

select least( "A", "B", "C" ) from dual;

   
SQL>
SQL> select least( "A", "B", "C" ) from dual;
L
-
A
1 row selected.
SQL>
SQL> --

select least( "X", "x" ) from dual;

   
SQL>
SQL>
SQL> select least( "X", "x" ) from dual;
L
-
X
1 row selected.
SQL>
SQL> --

This script demonstrates the Least functions

  
SQL> SET SERVEROUTPUT ON
SQL> DECLARE
  2     v_char VARCHAR2(10);
  3     v_number NUMBER(10);
  4  BEGIN
  5
  6
  7     v_char := LEAST("A", "B", "C");
  8     v_number := LEAST(1,2,3);
  9
 10     DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE("Least Character: "||v_char);
 11     DBMS_OUTPUT.PUT_LINE("Least Number: "||v_number);
 12
 13  END;
 14  /
Least Character: A
Least Number: 1
PL/SQL procedure successfully completed.
SQL>
SQL>

Use least() to limit the value

  

SQL> create table salary
  2  ( grade      NUMBER(2)   constraint S_PK primary key
  3  , lowerlimit NUMBER(6,2)
  4  , upperlimit NUMBER(6,2)
  5  , bonus      NUMBER(6,2)
  6  , constraint S_LO_UP_CHK check(lowerlimit <= upperlimit)
  7  ) ;
Table created.
SQL>
SQL> insert into salary values (1,  700,1200,   0);
1 row created.
SQL> insert into salary values (2, 1201,1400,  50);
1 row created.
SQL> insert into salary values (3, 1401,2000, 100);
1 row created.
SQL> insert into salary values (4, 2001,3000, 200);
1 row created.
SQL> insert into salary values (5, 3001,9999, 500);
1 row created.
SQL>
SQL> select grade + 5
  2  ,      lowerlimit + 2300
  3  ,      least(9999,upperlimit + 2300)
  4  ,      500
  5  from   salary;
   GRADE+5 LOWERLIMIT+2300 LEAST(9999,UPPERLIMIT+2300)        500
---------- --------------- --------------------------- ----------
         6            3000                        3500        500
         7            3501                        3700        500
         8            3701                        4300        500
         9            4301                        5300        500
        10            5301                        9999        500
SQL>
SQL>
SQL> drop table salary;
Table dropped.