This page is a quick reference checkpoint for LAST VALUE in ORACLE: behavior, syntax rules, edge cases, and a minimal example; plus the official vendor documentation.
LAST_VALUE returns the last value in the window frame.
Behavior: Returns the last value in the ordered window. Default frame is RANGE BETWEEN UNBOUNDED PRECEDING AND CURRENT ROW when ORDER BY exists, which may cause LAST_VALUE to return the current row unless a wider frame is specified.
If this behavior feels unintuitive, the tutorial below explains the underlying pattern step-by-step.
Syntax: LAST_VALUE(expr) OVER (analytic_clause). expr is required; analytic_clause defines partition, ordering, and window.
SELECT department_id, hire_date, salary, LAST_VALUE(salary) OVER (PARTITION BY department_id ORDER BY hire_date ROWS BETWEEN UNBOUNDED PRECEDING AND UNBOUNDED FOLLOWING) AS last_sal 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 ORACLE Documentation →Looking for more functions across all SQL dialects? Visit the full SQL Dialects & Window Functions Documentation.