In SQL, the LAST_VALUE() function is used to return the last value in an ordered set of values. It is often used in conjunction with a combination of window functions for data analysis and reporting purposes.

Syntax

The syntax for the LAST_VALUE() function is as follows:

LAST_VALUE(expression) OVER (
    [PARTITION BY partition_expression]
    ORDER BY sort_expression [ASC | DESC]
    ROWS BETWEEN UNBOUNDED PRECEDING AND UNBOUNDED FOLLOWING
)

Example

Let’s consider a scenario where we have a table called products with columns product_id, product_name, and price. We want to fetch the last sold price for each product using the LAST_VALUE() function within a stored procedure.

CREATE PROCEDURE GetLastPriceByProduct
AS
BEGIN
    SELECT DISTINCT product_id, 
        LAST_VALUE(price) OVER (
            PARTITION BY product_id 
            ORDER BY last_sold_date DESC
            ROWS BETWEEN UNBOUNDED PRECEDING AND UNBOUNDED FOLLOWING
        ) AS last_sold_price
    FROM products;
END

In the above example, we create a stored procedure named GetLastPriceByProduct. Inside the procedure, we use the LAST_VALUE() function to get the last sold price for each product based on the last_sold_date column, sorted in descending order. The PARTITION BY clause is used to group the records by product_id.

To execute the stored procedure and obtain the last sold prices for each product, you can simply call the procedure:

EXEC GetLastPriceByProduct;

This will return a result set containing the product_id and the corresponding last_sold_price for each product.

Conclusion

The LAST_VALUE() function in SQL is a powerful tool for retrieving the last value in an ordered set of data. By utilizing this function within a stored procedure, you can efficiently obtain the last sold price or any other desired information based on specific criteria. It’s an excellent way to analyze and report on your data effectively.

#SQL #StoredProcedures