Skip to main content

NTH_VALUE

Introduced: v1.1.50

Returns the Nth value from an ordered group of values.

See also:

Syntax​

NTH_VALUE(expression, n) OVER ([PARTITION BY partition_expression] ORDER BY order_expression [window_frame])

For the syntax of window frame, see Window Frame Syntax.

Examples​

CREATE TABLE employees (
  employee_id INT,
  first_name VARCHAR(50),
  last_name VARCHAR(50),
  salary DECIMAL(10,2)
);

INSERT INTO employees (employee_id, first_name, last_name, salary)
VALUES
  (1, 'John', 'Doe', 5000.00),
  (2, 'Jane', 'Smith', 6000.00),
  (3, 'David', 'Johnson', 5500.00),
  (4, 'Mary', 'Williams', 7000.00),
  (5, 'Michael', 'Brown', 4500.00);

-- Use NTH_VALUE to retrieve the first name of the employee with the second highest salary
SELECT employee_id, first_name, last_name, salary,
       NTH_VALUE(first_name, 2) OVER (ORDER BY salary DESC) AS second_highest_salary_first_name
FROM employees;

employee_id | first_name | last_name | salary  | second_highest_salary_first_name
------------+------------+-----------+---------+----------------------------------
4           | Mary       | Williams  | 7000.00 | Jane
2           | Jane       | Smith     | 6000.00 | Jane
3           | David      | Johnson   | 5500.00 | Jane
1           | John       | Doe       | 5000.00 | Jane
5           | Michael    | Brown     | 4500.00 | Jane