ABS

Syntax

Purpose

ABS returns the absolute value of n.

This function takes as an argument any numeric datatype or any nonnumeric datatype that can be implicitly converted to a numeric datatype. The function returns the same datatype as the numeric datatype of the argument.

See Also:

Table 2-10, "Implicit Type Conversion Matrix" for more information on implicit conversion

Examples

The following example returns the absolute value of -15:

SELECT ABS(-15) "Absolute" FROM DUAL;

  Absolute
----------
        15