Learn Partitioning Data with Window Functions | Introduction to Window Functions

When you use window functions in SQL, the PARTITION BY clause gives you the power to divide your data into distinct groups, or partitions, before applying a calculation. Instead of running an aggregate calculation across the entire table, PARTITION BY lets you segment your results—so each group gets its own calculation. This is especially useful when you want to perform calculations like totals, averages, or rankings within specific categories such as regions, departments, or employees. By using PARTITION BY, you ensure that each partition's calculation is isolated from the others, making your analysis much more flexible and insightful.


              1234567
            
SELECT
  sale_id,
  region,
  amount,
  SUM(amount) OVER (PARTITION BY region) AS total_sales_per_region
FROM
  sales;

Partitioning is invaluable in real-world scenarios where you need to compare or analyze data within subgroups. For example, when analyzing sales data, you might want to see the total sales for each region, rather than just the overall total. This allows you to compare performance across regions and identify trends or outliers. Similarly, if you are tracking employee performance, partitioning by employee_id can help you understand each person's sales history in context.


              12345678
            
SELECT
  sale_id,
  employee_id,
  sale_date,
  amount,
  ROW_NUMBER() OVER (PARTITION BY employee_id ORDER BY sale_date) AS sale_rank
FROM
  sales;

1. What does PARTITION BY do in a window function?

2. Which of the following queries will calculate a separate running total for each region?

3. Fill in the blank so that each region gets its own running total of the `amount` column. Choose the correct keyword to complete the SQL window function clause.

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Section 1. Chapter 3

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              1234567
            
SELECT
  sale_id,
  region,
  amount,
  SUM(amount) OVER (PARTITION BY region) AS total_sales_per_region
FROM
  sales;


              12345678
            
SELECT
  sale_id,
  employee_id,
  sale_date,
  amount,
  ROW_NUMBER() OVER (PARTITION BY employee_id ORDER BY sale_date) AS sale_rank
FROM
  sales;

1. What does PARTITION BY do in a window function?

2. Which of the following queries will calculate a separate running total for each region?

3. Fill in the blank so that each region gets its own running total of the `amount` column. Choose the correct keyword to complete the SQL window function clause.

Everything was clear?

Thanks for your feedback!

Section 1. Chapter 3

Partitioning Data with Window Functions

1. What does PARTITION BY do in a window function?

2. Which of the following queries will calculate a separate running total for each region?

3. Fill in the blank so that each region gets its own running total of the amount column. Choose the correct keyword to complete the SQL window function clause.

Partitioning Data with Window Functions

1. What does PARTITION BY do in a window function?

2. Which of the following queries will calculate a separate running total for each region?

3. Fill in the blank so that each region gets its own running total of the amount column. Choose the correct keyword to complete the SQL window function clause.

3. Fill in the blank so that each region gets its own running total of the `amount` column. Choose the correct keyword to complete the SQL window function clause.

3. Fill in the blank so that each region gets its own running total of the `amount` column. Choose the correct keyword to complete the SQL window function clause.