# any_value

Selects one non-`NULL` value from the input rows. Use this function when any member of the group is an acceptable result.

The selected value is unspecified unless an aggregate `ORDER BY` determines the admission order. Use [`min`](https://coordinatordb.com/docs/reference/functions/aggregate-functions/min) or [`max`](https://coordinatordb.com/docs/reference/functions/aggregate-functions/max) when the smallest or largest value is required.

**Syntax**

```text
any_value(value [ORDER BY expression])
```

**Arguments**

* `value` — An expression of any supported value type. `NULL` values are skipped.

**Returned value**

One original input value, with its native type preserved. Empty and all-`NULL` inputs return `NULL`.

**Examples**

**Selecting a representative value**

```sql
CREATE TABLE sessions (account TEXT, browser TEXT);
INSERT INTO sessions VALUES ('Acme', 'Firefox'), ('Acme', 'Chrome'), ('Beta', NULL);
```

```sql
SELECT account, any_value(browser ORDER BY browser) AS browser
FROM sessions
GROUP BY account
ORDER BY account
FORMAT csv;
```

```text
"Acme","Chrome"
"Beta",\N
```

**Preserving a native value**

```sql
CREATE TABLE values_to_choose (value Date);
INSERT INTO values_to_choose VALUES (CAST('2025-01-15' AS Date)), (NULL);
```

```sql
SELECT any_value(value)
FROM values_to_choose
FORMAT csv;
```

```text
"2025-01-15"
```