SQL MIN function

MIN function returns the minimum from the expression. It is an example of aggregate functions.

Syntax:

select min(column_name) from table_name;

Examples:-

Consider below EMP table structure

Empno	Empname	Salary	Deptno
10	Bill	12000	5
11	Solomon	10000	5
12	Susan	10000	5
13	Wendy	9000	1
14	Benjamin	7500	1
15	Tom	7600	1
16	Henry	8500	2
17	Robert	9500	2
18	Paul	7700	2

1. Find the lowest salary among the employees.

select min(salary) from EMP;     

MIN(SALARY)

------------------------

      7500

2. Find the lowest salary among the employees in a department (Using where clause). 

select min(salary) from EMP where deptno = 5;     

MIN(SALARY)

------------------------

      10000

3. Find the lowest salary in each department (Using group by clause). 

select deptno,min(salary) from EMP group by deptno;     

 DEPTNO  MIN(SALARY)

 ----------     -----------

 1               7500

 2               8500

 5               10000