PostgreSQL MIN_SCALE() Function

Summary: in this tutorial, you will learn how to use the PostgreSQL min_scale() function to determine the minimum number of decimal places required to represent a number accurately.

Introduction to the PostgreSQL MIN_SCALE() function

In PostgreSQL, the min_scale() function allows you to determine the minimum number of decimal places required to represent a number accurately.

Here’s the syntax of the min_scale() function:

min_sacle(n)

In this syntax:

n is a value of the numeric data type that you want to find the minimum number of decimal places.

The min_scale() function returns an integer that represents the minimum scale needed to represent the input number n precisely.

The min_scale() function returns null if the input number is null.

Please note that PostgreSQL added the min_scale() function since version 13.

In practice, you can use the min_scale() function to save storage space by avoiding unnecessary decimal places when storing numeric data.

PostgreSQL MIN_SCALE() function examples

The following example uses the min_scale() function to return the min scale of the number 1.2300:

SELECT min_scale(1.2300);

Output:

min_scale
-----------
         2
(1 row)

The following example returns the min scale of the number 1.23:

SELECT min_scale(1.23);

Output:

min_scale
-----------
         2
(1 row)

The following example returns 0 because the integer 10 has no decimals:

SELECT min_scale(10);

Output:

min_scale
-----------
         0
(1 row)

Summary

Use the min_scale() function to determine the minimum scale of a number.