This page is a quick reference checkpoint for NTH VALUE in Databricks SQL: behavior, syntax rules, edge cases, and a minimal example; plus the official vendor documentation.
NTH_VALUE returns the value from the nth row in the window frame.
Returns the value of the n-th row in the window frame; requires ORDER BY; frame boundaries determine which row is considered n-th; n must be a positive integer
If this behavior feels unintuitive, the tutorial below explains the underlying pattern step-by-step.
NTH_VALUE(expr, n) OVER ( [PARTITION BY ...] ORDER BY ... [window_frame] )
SELECT NTH_VALUE(salary, 2) OVER (PARTITION BY department ORDER BY hire_date ROWS BETWEEN UNBOUNDED PRECEDING AND UNBOUNDED FOLLOWING) AS second_salary, employee_id, 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.
NTH 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.