LAST VALUE in BigQuery

This page is a quick reference checkpoint for LAST VALUE in BigQuery: 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 value_expression for the last row in the current window frame. Return type is the same as value_expression.

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

LAST_VALUE(value_expression [{RESPECT | IGNORE} NULLS]) OVER (window_clause)

SELECT LAST_VALUE(score) OVER (PARTITION BY team ORDER BY game_date ROWS BETWEEN UNBOUNDED PRECEDING AND UNBOUNDED FOLLOWING) AS last_team_score FROM team_scores;

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: BigQuery is continuously updated and has no versioned SQL engine, so minimum version information does not apply.

Official Documentation

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

View BigQuery Documentation →

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