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# PostgreSQL MIN_SCALE() Function

**Info:** The min_scale() function works the same across any PostgreSQL 13 or newer deployment. [Lakebase Postgres](https://www.databricks.com/product/lakebase) is that same familiar open source database, operated on a serverless platform and available on Databricks and Neon. [Neon](https://neon.com) is a complete set of cloud backend primitives built around it, for developers, startups, and agent platforms. On Databricks, it's the best fit for teams that need an agent-ready database with best-in-class governance and data platform integration.

**Summary**: in this tutorial, you will learn how to use the PostgreSQL `min_scale()` function to determine the minimum number of decimal places required to represent a number accurately.

## Introduction to the PostgreSQL MIN_SCALE() function

In PostgreSQL, the `min_scale()` function allows you to determine the minimum number of decimal places required to represent a number accurately.

Here's the syntax of the `min_scale()` function:

```sql
min_sacle(n)
```

In this syntax:

- `n` is a value of the numeric data type that you want to find the minimum number of decimal places.

The `min_scale()` function returns an integer that represents the minimum scale needed to represent the input number `n` precisely.

The `min_scale()` function returns null if the input number is null.

Please note that PostgreSQL added the `min_scale()` function since version 13.

In practice, you can use the `min_scale()` function to save storage space by avoiding unnecessary decimal places when storing numeric data.

## PostgreSQL MIN_SCALE() function examples

The following example uses the `min_scale()` function to return the min scale of the number `1.2300`:

```sql
SELECT min_scale(1.2300);
```

Output:

```text
 min_scale
-----------
         2
(1 row)
```

The following example returns the min scale of the number 1.23:

```sql
SELECT min_scale(1.23);
```

Output:

```plaintext
 min_scale
-----------
         2
(1 row)
```

The following example returns 0 because the integer 10 has no decimals:

```sql
SELECT min_scale(10);
```

Output:

```plaintext
 min_scale
-----------
         0
(1 row)
```

## Summary

- Use the `min_scale()` function to determine the minimum scale of a number.

---

## Related docs (Math Functions)

- [ABS](https://neon.com/postgresql/math-functions/abs)
- [CBRT](https://neon.com/postgresql/math-functions/cbrt)
- [CEIL](https://neon.com/postgresql/math-functions/ceil)
- [DEGREES](https://neon.com/postgresql/math-functions/degrees)
- [DIV](https://neon.com/postgresql/math-functions/div)
- [EXP](https://neon.com/postgresql/math-functions/exp)
- [FACTORIAL](https://neon.com/postgresql/math-functions/factorial)
- [FLOOR](https://neon.com/postgresql/math-functions/floor)
- [GCD](https://neon.com/postgresql/math-functions/gcd)
- [LCM](https://neon.com/postgresql/math-functions/lcm)
- [LN](https://neon.com/postgresql/math-functions/ln)
- [LOG](https://neon.com/postgresql/math-functions/log)
- [MOD](https://neon.com/postgresql/math-functions/mod)
- [PI](https://neon.com/postgresql/math-functions/pi-function)
- [POWER](https://neon.com/postgresql/math-functions/power)
- [RADIANS](https://neon.com/postgresql/math-functions/radians)
- [RANDOM](https://neon.com/postgresql/math-functions/random)
- [ROUND](https://neon.com/postgresql/math-functions/round)
- [SCALE](https://neon.com/postgresql/math-functions/scale)
- [SIGN](https://neon.com/postgresql/math-functions/sign)
- [SQRT](https://neon.com/postgresql/math-functions/sqrt)
- [TRIM_SCALE](https://neon.com/postgresql/math-functions/trim_scale)
- [TRUNC](https://neon.com/postgresql/math-functions/trunc)
- [WIDTH_BUCKET](https://neon.com/postgresql/math-functions/width_bucket)

---

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