MySQL: LEAST Function

This tutorial explains how to use the MySQL LEAST function with syntax and examples.

Description

The MySQL LEAST function returns the smallest value in a list of expressions.

Syntax

The syntax for the LEAST function in MySQL is:

LEAST( expr1, expr2, ... expr_n )

Parameters or Arguments

expr1, expr2, ... expr_n

The expressions that are evaluated by the LEAST function.

Applies To

The LEAST function can be used in the following versions of MySQL:

• MySQL 5.7, MySQL 5.6, MySQL 5.5, MySQL 5.1, MySQL 5.0, MySQL 4.1, MySQL 4.0, MySQL 3.23

Example

Let's look at some MySQL LEAST function examples and explore how to use the LEAST function in MySQL.

For example:

mysql> SELECT LEAST(2, 5, 12, 3);
Output: 2

mysql> SELECT LEAST('2', '5', '12', '3');
Output: '12'

mysql> SELECT LEAST('AODBA.com', 'mysite.com', 'bing.com');
Output: 'AODBA.com'

mysql> SELECT LEAST('AODBA.com', 'mysite.com', null);
Output: NULL