SQL MIN Command

Min Query Minimum value in a numeric field can be collected by applying MIN() SQL command.
We will try MIN sql command and how to use it in our tables. But the best way to use MIN command is to apply it in a numeric field.Here is our table with all the records.

id name class mark
1 John Deo Four 75
2 Max Ruin Three 85
3 Arnold Three 55
4 Krish Star Four 60
5 John Mike Four 60
6 Alex John Four 55
 
You can check SQL MAX command to get maximum or highest value of a range of records.

We will apply the MIN command here like this to the field  mark
SELECT MIN( mark ) FROM `student`
MIN(mark)
55
The command will locate the minimum  value of the mark field and return. We can define some header  like this also.
SELECT MIN(mark) as min_mark FROM `student`
min_mark
55

Minimum mark in each class

Now let us find out what is the minimum mark ( or lowest ) in each class. Here we can use the Group By command to find out the minimum mark obtained by each class
SELECT class, min( mark ) as min_mark FROM `student` GROUP BY class
class min_mark
Four 55
Three 55

Here  minimum mark of each class is displayed. Since we have two class in our table so the sql command has returned two class with lowest mark in each of them. We have to use Group By clause if we ask for the query to return any other field name other than the min. Otherwise system will generate error.

Getting all the details of the record having minimum ( min ) data

Among the students who got the minimum mark? This is done by using SQL Sub query. Like this .
SELECT * FROM `student` WHERE mark=(select min(mark) from student)
Output is here
idnameclassmark
6Alex JohnFour55

MIN Query with JOIN

SELECT  a.store, MIN(qty) min_qty, b.product,
b.price * MIN(qty) AS total_price  FROM sales a
 LEFT JOIN products b ON a.p_id = b.p_id GROUP BY store;
storemin_qtyproducttotal_price
ABC2Monitor150
DEF1CPU55
Details of products and sales table with JOIN query

Getting Min value from a date field

We can get Minimum value from a date field like this.
SELECT MIN(exam_dt) FROM student_mark
There are two exam dates available for each month. We may require the 1st exam date for each month.
SELECT MIN(exam_dt) from student_mark group by month(exam_dt)
You can get SQL Dump of student_mark table here

Using SQL with MIN Query in PHP Script

Query using PHP script First we will connect to MySQL database.

Here is the sample code.
<?Php
require "config.php";

$count="SELECT class, MIN( mark ) as min_mark FROM `student` GROUP BY class";

echo "<table>";
echo "<tr><th>class</th><th>max_mark</th></tr>";
foreach ($dbo->query($count) as $row) {
echo "<tr ><td>$row[class]</td><td>$row[min_mark]</td></tr>";
}
echo "</table>";
?>

Using SQL with MIN query in Python ( SQLite database )

Sample database and connection object can be found in this source code at Colab.
query="SELECT *  FROM student LIMIT 0,5" # sql
my_data=list(my_conn.execute(query)) # rows of data as list
print(my_data) # display  rows

Role in Data Analysis

  • Trend Analysis: By comparing the minimum values over different periods, analysts can identify trends, such as seasonal lows in sales or stock levels.
  • Performance Evaluation: In financial data analysis, the `MIN` function helps in assessing the minimum returns or the worst-case scenarios in investment portfolios.
  • Operational Insights: Identifying the minimum inventory levels or the least number of resources used in production processes can lead to more efficient resource management.
Integrating with Other SQL Functions
  • Combination with Aggregate Functions: Often used alongside other aggregate functions like `MAX`, `AVG`, and `SUM` to provide a comprehensive view of the data's distribution.
  • Group By Clause: When used with the `GROUP BY` clause, `MIN` can determine the minimum values of different categories or groups, providing insights at a granular level.
  • Window Functions: In more advanced scenarios, `MIN` can be used as a window function to perform calculations across sets of rows related to the current row.
Practical Examples
  • Financial Analysis: Finding the minimum sale price of a product over a year to understand pricing strategies.
  • Healthcare Data Analysis: Identifying the minimum length of hospital stays to optimize patient flow and resource allocation.
  • Retail and E-commerce: Analyzing the minimum order quantity to adjust inventory levels and manage supply chain logistics.
Performance Considerations
  • Indexing: Proper indexing on columns used with the `MIN` function can significantly improve query performance, especially in large datasets.
  • Null Values Handling: Being aware of how `MIN` interacts with null values is important. By default, `MIN` ignores null values, but this behavior might need to be considered during data analysis to ensure accurate results.

Conclusion

The SQL MIN function is indispensable in data analysis, providing essential insights into the lower extremes of datasets. Its utility spans across various domains, offering a foundation for decision-making processes based on the minimal values within datasets. When combined with other SQL features and functions, MIN enables analysts to conduct thorough and multifaceted data analysis, driving strategic business decisions and operational efficiencies.


SQL Math References Maximum value Query
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    hmds

    04-08-2011

    This is great, but how would you go about getting the id of the student with the lowest mark in each class in this case. So, to return id class min_mark 3 Four 55 6 Three 55
    Avinash Kumar

    21-05-2012

    select name,price from table where price=(select min(price) from table);
    smo1234

    26-04-2019

    test after removal of js file

    12-07-2023

    Show the details of the person with the lowest ID.

    Post your comments , suggestion , error , requirements etc here





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