This page is a quick reference checkpoint for LEAD in Snowflake: behavior, syntax rules, edge cases, and a minimal example; plus the official vendor documentation.
LEAD returns a value from the next row in the window partition.
Accesses data in a subsequent row in the same result set without needing a self-join; supports an offset (default 1), a default return if offset is out of bounds, and {IGNORE | RESPECT} NULLS semantics. Default offset is 1; default default value is NULL. The PARTITION BY clause partitions the result and ORDER BY defines ordering in each partition.
If this behavior feels unintuitive, the tutorial below explains the underlying pattern step-by-step.
LEAD ( <expr> [ , <offset> , <default> ] ) [ { IGNORE | RESPECT } NULLS ] OVER ( [ PARTITION BY <expr1> ] ORDER BY <expr2> [ { ASC | DESC } ] )
SELECT emp_id, year, revenue, LEAD(revenue) OVER (PARTITION BY emp_id ORDER BY year) AS next_revenue 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.
LEAD is part of a bigger window-function pattern. If you want the “why”, start here: Lead Lag
Reading docs is useful. Writing the query correctly under pressure is the skill.
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.