# min

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

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

**Syntax**

```text
min(value)
min(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 smallest 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 smallest salary**

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

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

```text
46000
```

**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 min(day)
FROM events
FORMAT csv;
```

```text
"2025-01-05"
```

**Comparing values within one row**

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

```text
3,\N
```

**Related functions**

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