# max

Calculates the maximum of the non-`NULL` input values. The selected value keeps its original native type.

With one argument, `max` is an aggregate over rows. With two or more arguments, it is a scalar function comparing the arguments of one row.

**Syntax**

```text
max(value)
max(value1, value2, ...)
```

**Arguments**

* `value` — An expression to compare across input rows. SQL value ordering and the selected collation determine the result.
* `value1, value2, ...` — Two or more values for the scalar form.

**Returned value**

The largest input value. The aggregate skips `NULL` and returns `NULL` for empty or all-`NULL` input. The scalar form returns `NULL` if any argument is `NULL`.

**Examples**

**Finding the largest salary**

```sql
CREATE TABLE employees (salary INTEGER);
INSERT INTO employees VALUES (46000), (NULL), (59000), (72000);
```

```sql
SELECT max(salary)
FROM employees
FORMAT csv;
```

```text
72000
```

**Comparing native dates**

```sql
CREATE TABLE events (day Date);
INSERT INTO events VALUES (CAST('2025-03-10' AS Date)), (CAST('2025-01-05' AS Date));
```

```sql
SELECT max(day)
FROM events
FORMAT csv;
```

```text
"2025-03-10"
```

**Comparing values within one row**

```sql
SELECT max(8, 3, 12), max(8, NULL, 12)
FORMAT csv;
```

```text
12,\N
```

**Related functions**

* [`min`](https://coordinatordb.com/docs/reference/functions/aggregate-functions/min) selects the smallest value.
* [`any_value`](https://coordinatordb.com/docs/reference/functions/aggregate-functions/any-value) selects a representative non-`NULL` value.
* [`max_state` and `max_merge`](https://coordinatordb.com/docs/reference/functions/aggregate-functions/combinators) store and combine intermediate extrema.