How to Use the LEAD() Function in SQL Server

In SQL Server, LEAD() is a window function that allows us to access a value from a later row in the same result set, without the need to perform a self-join.

We specify the row as an offset from the current row. An offset of 1 means it gets the value from the next row, an offset of 2 means two rows forward, and so on.

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Introduction to the LAG() Function in SQL Server

In SQL Server, LAG() is a window function that enables us to access a value from a previous row in the same result set, without the need to perform a self-join.

We specify the previous row as an offset from the current row. An offset of 1 means the previous row, an offset of 2 means two rows back, and so on.

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How to Use the LAST_VALUE() Function in SQL Server

In SQL Server, the LAST_VALUE() function returns the last value in an ordered set of values.

LAST_VALUE() is a window function that enables us to get a value from the last row of a query result set or partition. This can be useful for when we want to do stuff such as compare a value from the current row with a value in the last row or include it in a calculation.

You may need to explicitly set the window frame if you want LAST_VALUE() to return the actual last value from the partition or result set. That’s because the default window frame ends with the current row. This is covered in the example below.

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How to Use the FIRST_VALUE() Function in SQL Server

In SQL Server, FIRST_VALUE() is a window function that returns the first value in an ordered set of values.

Basically, we can use it to get a value from the first row of a query result set or partition. This can be handy if we want to compare a value in the current row with a value in the first row, or use it as part of a calculation.

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