LAST VALUE in Postgres

This page is a quick reference checkpoint for LAST VALUE in Postgres: behavior, syntax rules, edge cases, and a minimal example; plus the official vendor documentation.


Function Details

LAST_VALUE returns the last value in the window frame.

Returns the value of the last row in the window frame; with the default frame the result may reflect only rows up to the current row unless the frame is adjusted.

If this behavior feels unintuitive, the tutorial below explains the underlying pattern step-by-step.

LAST_VALUE(value) is listed as a window function and requires an OVER clause.

SELECT LAST_VALUE(salary) OVER (ORDER BY salary ROWS BETWEEN UNBOUNDED PRECEDING AND UNBOUNDED FOLLOWING) FROM empsalary;

What should you do next?

If you came here to confirm syntax, you’re done. If you came here to get better at window functions, choose your next step.

Understand the pattern

LAST VALUE is part of a bigger window-function pattern. If you want the “why”, start here: First Last Nth Value

Prove it with a real query

Jump into practice to lock this in.

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Support Status

  • Supported: yes
  • Minimum Version: PostgreSQL from version 8.4 onward supports window/analytic functions (OVER, window-aggregates, ranking, navigation, distribution), making 8.4 the effective minimum version.

Official Documentation

For the authoritative spec, use the vendor docs. This page is the fast “sanity check”.

View Postgres Documentation →

Looking for more functions across all SQL dialects? Visit the full SQL Dialects & Window Functions Documentation.