This page is a quick reference checkpoint for FIRST VALUE in MariaDB: 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 frame defined by the ORDER BY and frame clause
If this behavior feels unintuitive, the tutorial below explains the underlying pattern step-by-step.
FIRST_VALUE(expr) OVER (PARTITION BY ... ORDER BY ...)
SELECT FIRST_VALUE(val) OVER (ORDER BY val) AS first_val FROM t1
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 MariaDB Documentation →Looking for more functions across all SQL dialects? Visit the full SQL Dialects & Window Functions Documentation.