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# ABS

## Overview

The `ABS()` function returns an absolute number, i.e., the positive value of a number. The data type of the returned value will depend on the data type of the value passed to the `ABS()` function.

## Syntax

The syntax for the `ABS() `function is as follows:

```sql theme={null}
ABS(x)
```

The `ABS()` function requires one argument:

* `x`: An expression that evaluates to a number.

<Note>The **ABS()** function will return the negation of the negative numbers.</Note>

## Examples

### Case #1: Absolute value of a negative number

The following example demonstrates how the `ABS()` function can be used to obtain the absolute value of a negative number:

```sql theme={null}
SELECT ABS(-10.25);
```

It will return an absolute value of the passed argument:

```sql theme={null}
+--------+
| f      | 
+--------+
| 10.25  |
+--------+
```

### Case #2: ABS() function with an expression

The following example demonstrates how the `ABS()` function can be used with an expression to obtain the absolute value of the result:

```sql theme={null}
SELECT ABS( 100 - 250);
```

The result of the above statement is **-150**. However, you will get the output **150**, as 150 is the positive version of -150.

```sql theme={null}
+------+
| f    | 
+------+
| 150  |
+------+
```

### Case #3: Using the ABS() function with a table

The following example demonstrates how the `ABS()` function can be used with a table to obtain the absolute values of all numbers in a specific column:

1. First, create a table named absTable containing an ***initialValue*** column with some positive and negative values:

```sql theme={null}
CREATE TABLE absTable(initialValue float);

INSERT INTO absTable(initialValue)
VALUES 
(550),
(-210), 
(72.12),
(-87.93),
(-0.0);
```

2. Next, use the following query to find the absolute value of all numbers:

```sql theme={null}
SELECT initialValue, ABS(initialValue) AS absoluteValue
FROM absTable;
```

3. The above query will retrieve all values in the **"initialValue"** column and their absolute values in the **"absoluteValue"** column. The output will look something like this:

```sql theme={null}
+---------------+----------------+
| initialValue  | absoluteValue  |
+---------------+----------------+
| 550           | 550            |
| -210          | 210            |
| 72.12         | 72.12          |
| 87.93         | 87.93          |
| -0            | 0              |
+---------------+----------------+
```