MySQL SUM() Function
The SUM()
function in MySQL calculates the total of a set of numeric values. It's a fundamental aggregate function used for summarizing numerical data within a table or a result set from a query.
SUM(): Definition and Usage
SUM()
is incredibly useful for getting totals from your data. It automatically ignores any NULL
values in the column you're summing, so you don't need to pre-filter out NULL
s before using SUM()
.
Syntax
Syntax
SUM(expression)
Parameter Values
Parameter | Description |
---|---|
expression |
A numeric column or an expression that evaluates to a number. This is required. |
Example
Calculating the Total Quantity Ordered
This example calculates the total quantity of items ordered from the 'OrderDetails' table (assuming it has a 'Quantity' column).
Syntax
SELECT SUM(Quantity) AS TotalItemsOrdered FROM OrderDetails;
Output
TotalItemsOrdered
-----------------
865 (Example output; this will vary based on your data)