---
title: 'PostgreSQL ABS() Function'
page_title: 'PostgreSQL ABS() Function'
page_description: 'This tutorial shows you how to use the PostgreSQL ABS() function to calculate the absolute value of a number.'
prev_url: 'https://www.postgresqltutorial.com/postgresql-math-functions/postgresql-abs/'
ogImage: ''
updatedOn: '2024-02-16T14:25:19+00:00'
enableTableOfContents: true
previousLink:
  title: 'PostgreSQL Math Functions'
  slug: 'postgresql-math-functions/'
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  title: 'PostgreSQL CEIL() Function'
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---

The PostgreSQL `ABS()` function returns the absolute value of a number.

## Syntax

The following illustrates the syntax of the `ABS()` function:

```csssql
ABS(numeric_expression)
```

## Arguments

The `ABS()` function requires one argument:

1\) `numeric_expression`

The `numeric_expression` can be a number or a numeric expression that evaluates to a number.

## Return Value

The `ABS()` function returns a value whose [data type](../postgresql-tutorial/postgresql-time) is the same as the input argument.

## Absolute Operator @

Besides the ABS() function, you can use the absolute operator @:

```
@ expression
```

In this syntax, the `@` operator returns the absolute value of the `expression`.

## Examples

The following example shows how to use the `ABS()` function to calculate the absolute value of a number:

```
SELECT ABS(-10.25) result;
```

The result is:

```css
 result
--------
  10.25
(1 row)

```

The following statement uses an expression for the `ABS()` function:

```
SELECT ABS( 100 - 250 ) result;
```

Here is the result:

```
 result
--------
    150
(1 row)
```

Besides the `ABS()` function, you can use the absolute operator `@`, for example:

```
SELECT @ -15 as result
```

It returned 15 as expected.

```
 result
--------
     15
(1 row)
```

In this tutorial, you have learned how to use the PostgreSQL `ABS()` function to calculate the absolute value of a number.