ABS()

ABS() gives you the absolute value of a number - meaning it drops any negative sign and returns just the size, never the direction.

About 5–10 minutes · no sign-up needed

Example

Measuring Retail Return Differences with ABS()

SELECT return_id, category, price_difference, ABS(price_difference) AS abs_difference
FROM returns
ORDER BY abs_difference DESC

Result:

return_id	category	price_difference	abs_difference
R2004	Home	-130.0	130.0
R2001	Electronics	-45.99	45.99
R2002	Clothing	12.5	12.5
R2003	Beauty	-8.75	8.75
R2005	Grocery	3.2	3.2

Run the query without ABS so you can see what the unfiltered values look like.

SELECT return_id, category, price_difference, price_difference
FROM returns
ORDER BY abs_difference DESC;

ABS returns the value without its sign - always positive.

SELECT return_id, category, price_difference, ABS(price_difference)
FROM returns
ORDER BY abs_difference DESC;

AS gives the ABS result a friendly column name so the output reads cleanly.

SELECT return_id, category, price_difference, ABS(price_difference) AS abs_difference
FROM returns
ORDER BY abs_difference DESC;

Try each one in your head first, then open the answer.

1. Using orders, write a query to show the absolute value of revenue (turn negatives into positives).

SELECT ABS(revenue) FROM orders

2. Using store_sales, write a query to show the absolute value of revenue (turn negatives into positives).

SELECT ABS(revenue) FROM store_sales

3. Using products, write a query to show the absolute value of price (turn negatives into positives).

SELECT ABS(price) FROM products

4. Using reviews, write a query to show the absolute value of rating (turn negatives into positives).

SELECT ABS(rating) FROM reviews

5. Using employees, write a query to show the absolute value of salary (turn negatives into positives).

SELECT ABS(salary) FROM employees

Learn it by doing. This lesson is a short hands-on level on Bampaa: see it work, then build and write it yourself, with instant feedback.

About 5–10 minutes · no sign-up needed