This page is a quick reference checkpoint for NTH VALUE in Spark SQL: behavior, syntax rules, edge cases, and a minimal example; plus the official vendor documentation.
NTH_VALUE returns the value from the nth row in the window frame.
Returns the n-th 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.
`NTH_VALUE(expr, n)requires anOVER` clause; Spark documents two required arguments.
SELECT category, amount, NTH_VALUE(amount, 2) OVER (PARTITION BY category ORDER BY amount ROWS BETWEEN UNBOUNDED PRECEDING AND UNBOUNDED FOLLOWING) AS second_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.
NTH 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 Spark SQL Documentation →Looking for more functions across all SQL dialects? Visit the full SQL Dialects & Window Functions Documentation.