This page is a quick reference checkpoint for FIRST VALUE in Snowflake: 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 for each row; when the current row is the very first row in the window frame, the result may be NULL. Non-existent rows outside the partition or frame are not included.
If this behavior feels unintuitive, the tutorial below explains the underlying pattern step-by-step.
FIRST_VALUE(<expr>) OVER ( [ PARTITION BY <expr1> ] ORDER BY <expr2> [ { ASC | DESC } ] [ <window_frame> ] )
SELECT region, amount, FIRST_VALUE(amount) OVER (PARTITION BY region ORDER BY amount) AS first_amount FROM sales;
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 Snowflake Documentation →Looking for more functions across all SQL dialects? Visit the full SQL Dialects & Window Functions Documentation.