SUM OVER in Postgres

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


Function Details

SUM OVER returns the running or partitioned sum within the window frame.

Default window frame behavior is described; details include RANGE and ROWS frames and rules for window definitions.

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

Supports ordered-set aggregate syntax and frame clauses as documented.

SELECT SUM(salary) OVER (ORDER BY salary) 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

SUM OVER is part of a bigger window-function pattern. If you want the “why”, start here: Aggregate Window Functions

Prove it with a real query

Reading docs is useful. Writing the query correctly under pressure is the skill.

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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.