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POWER() in SQL

Returns the result of raising a base number to a specified power (exponent). Also written as POW() in some databases.

Syntax

POWER(base, exponent) or POW(base, exponent)

Return type

NUMERIC/FLOAT/DOUBLE (depends on DBMS and input types)

POWER() Function Example

SELECT POWER(2, 3); 
-- Output: 8 (2 raised to power 3)

What is POWER() in SQL?

The POWER() function in SQL returns the result of raising a base number to a specified exponent. It is used for mathematical computations, scientific calculations, and financial modeling, where exponential growth or scaling is required. In some databases like MySQL, the function is also written as POW(), but both perform the same operation. The POWER() function is widely supported in SQL Server, MySQL, PostgreSQL, and Oracle, making it a useful tool for calculations involving exponents, interest rates, and data transformations.

Parameters:

base: The base number to be raised to a power.
exponent: The power to raise the base number to.

Example Use Cases:

-- Calculate compound interest

SELECT principal * POWER(1 + rate, years) AS amount FROM investments; 
-- Output:
amount
-------
11592.74
8236.89
15783.62
9456.31
12847.95

-- Compute area of squares

SELECT POWER(side_length, 2) AS area FROM squares; 
-- Output:
area
----
25
64
100
144
81

-- Calculate volume of cubes

SELECT POWER(edge_length, 3) AS volume FROM cubes;
-- Output:
volume
------
27
64
125
216
1000

Notes:

Behavior: Returns NULL if base is negative and exponent is fractional
Performance Considerations: More computationally intensive than basic arithmetic
Version Info: Core mathematical function available in all major DBMS
Deprecated/Recommended Alternatives: Some DBMS use POW() as alternative syntax

Error Handling:

Error: Returns NULL if input is NULL
Recommendation: Use COALESCE if NULL handling needed

Supported Databases:

DBMS

Function / Syntax

Example

Returns NULL

Related Functions:

SQRT()

Returns the square root of a non-negative number. The square root is the value that, when multiplied by itself, gives the number.

SIGN()

Returns the sign of a number: -1 for negative numbers, 0 for zero, and 1 for positive numbers.

ABS()

Returns the absolute (positive) value of a number by removing the negative sign if present.

RAND()/RANDOM()

Generates a random number. Without parameters, returns a floating-point number between 0 (inclusive) and 1 (exclusive). Some DBMS allow seeding for reproducible results.

MOD()

Returns the remainder after dividing one number by another. Also available as % operator in many databases.

POWER()

Returns the result of raising a base number to a specified power (exponent). Also written as POW() in some databases.

FLOOR()

Rounds a number down to the nearest integer or to a specified decimal place. Always rounds toward negative infinity.

CEIL()/CEILING()

Rounds a number up to the nearest integer or to a specified decimal place. Always rounds away from zero for positive numbers and toward zero for negative numbers.

ROUND()

Rounds a number to a specified number of decimal places or to the nearest integer.

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POWER() in SQL

Syntax

Return type

POWER() Function Example

What is POWER() in SQL?

Parameters:

Example Use Cases:

Notes:

Error Handling:

Supported Databases:

DBMS

Function / Syntax

Example

Behavior with NULL

MySQL

PostgreSQL

SQL Server

SQLite

BigQuery

Snowflake

Athena

Related Functions:

SQRT()

SIGN()

ABS()

RAND()/RANDOM()

MOD()

POWER()

FLOOR()

CEIL()/CEILING()

ROUND()

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