LAST VALUE in Spark SQL

This page is a quick reference checkpoint for LAST VALUE in Spark SQL: 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 last value in the window frame based on the window's ORDER BY and frame specification.

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

`LAST_VALUE(expr)` requires an OVER clause; Spark documents one required argument.

SELECT category, amount, LAST_VALUE(amount) OVER (PARTITION BY category ORDER BY amount ROWS BETWEEN UNBOUNDED PRECEDING AND UNBOUNDED FOLLOWING) AS last_amount FROM sales;

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: 1.4

Official Documentation

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

View Spark SQL Documentation →

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