This page is a quick reference checkpoint for FIRST VALUE in Databricks SQL: behavior, syntax rules, edge cases, and a minimal example; plus the official vendor documentation.
FIRST_VALUE returns the first value in the window frame.
Returns the first value in the window; result depends on ORDER BY and the window frame; default frame may include preceding rows depending on specification
If this behavior feels unintuitive, the tutorial below explains the underlying pattern step-by-step.
FIRST_VALUE(expr) OVER ( [PARTITION BY ...] ORDER BY ... [window_frame] )
SELECT employee_id, salary, FIRST_VALUE(salary) OVER (PARTITION BY department ORDER BY hire_date) AS first_salary FROM employees;
If you came here to confirm syntax, you’re done. If you came here to get better at window functions, choose your next step.
FIRST VALUE is part of a bigger window-function pattern. If you want the “why”, start here: First Last Nth Value
For the authoritative spec, use the vendor docs. This page is the fast “sanity check”.
View Databricks SQL Documentation →Looking for more functions across all SQL dialects? Visit the full SQL Dialects & Window Functions Documentation.