This page is a quick reference checkpoint for LAST VALUE in IBM DB2: behavior, syntax rules, edge cases, and a minimal example; plus the official vendor documentation.
LAST_VALUE returns the last value in the window frame.
Returns the value of expr from the last row of the window frame after ORDER BY is applied; default frame behavior can cause unintuitive results unless a frame is explicitly defined.
If this behavior feels unintuitive, the tutorial below explains the underlying pattern step-by-step.
Requires ORDER BY in the OLAP specification; returns LAST_VALUE(expr); default window frame may cause LAST_VALUE to return the last row of the entire partition unless a frame clause is specified.
SELECT LAST_VALUE(salary) OVER (PARTITION BY dept ORDER BY salary) AS last_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.
LAST 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 IBM DB2 Documentation →Looking for more functions across all SQL dialects? Visit the full SQL Dialects & Window Functions Documentation.