In SQL, the AVG and SUM functions are used to perform different calculations on numeric columns in a table. While both functions deal with aggregating values, they produce different results. Let’s dive into the differences between these two functions.

1. AVG Function

The AVG function calculates the average of a set of values in a numeric column. It returns the average as a decimal or floating-point number.

The syntax for using the AVG function is as follows:

SELECT AVG(column_name) FROM table_name;

For example, suppose we have a table named sales with a column named amount that stores the sales made by each employee. To calculate the average sales, we can use the following query:

SELECT AVG(amount) FROM sales;

The result will be the average sales made by all employees.

2. SUM Function

The SUM function, on the other hand, calculates the total sum of a set of values in a numeric column. It returns the sum as a single value.

The syntax for using the SUM function is as follows:

SELECT SUM(column_name) FROM table_name;

Continuing with our example of the sales table, to calculate the total sales made by all employees, we can use the following query:

SELECT SUM(amount) FROM sales;

The result will be the sum of all sales made.

Conclusion

In summary, the AVG function calculates the average of a set of values, while the SUM function calculates the total sum of a set of values. Use AVG when you want to find the average value, and use SUM when you want to find the total sum of values.

#hashtags: #SQL #aggregation