LEAD

This section contains reference documentation for the LEAD function.

Returns the value from a following row in the same result set, based on a specified physical offset. It can be used to compare values in the current row with values in a subsequent row.

Signature

LEAD(any expression [, bigint offset [, any default]])

Arguments

• expression: The column or calculation from which the value is to be returned.

• offset: The number of rows before the current row from which to retrieve the value. The default is 1 if not specified.

• default: The value to return if the offset goes beyond the scope of the window. If not specified, NULL is returned.

Example

Forecast next day's sales based on current data.

Anticipate the next payment amount for budget planning.

Identify potential increases in expenses or revenue.

Forecast next day's sales based on current data This example shows how to use the LEAD function to anticipate sales for the next day.

SELECT
    sales_date,
    sales_amount,
    LEAD(sales_amount, 1) OVER (ORDER BY sales_date) AS next_day_sales
FROM
    daily_sales;

Output:

sales_date	sales_amount	next_day_sales
2023-02-14	200	180
2023-02-15	180	220
2023-02-16	220	NULL

Anticipate the next payment amount for budget planning This query retrieves the next payment amount for each transaction to assist in financial forecasting and budgeting.

SELECT
    transaction_id,
    payment_date,
    amount,
    LEAD(amount, 1) OVER (ORDER BY payment_date) AS next_payment_amount
FROM
    payments;

Output:

transaction_id	payment_date	amount	next_payment_amount
416	2023-02-14 21:21:59.996577	2.99	4.99
516	2023-02-14 21:23:39.996577	4.99	4.99
239	2023-02-14 21:29:00.996577	4.99	6.99

Identify potential increases in expenses or revenue Utilize the LEAD function to examine monthly data and predict potential increases or trends in expenses or revenue for future planning.

SELECT
    month,
    year,
    expenses,
    LEAD(expenses, 1) OVER (ORDER BY year, month) AS next_month_expenses
FROM
    financials;

Output:

month	year	expenses	next_month_expenses
1	2023	1000	1100
2	2023	1100	1200
3	2023	1200	NULL

Use with CTE:

WITH tmp AS (
  select count(*) as num_trips,
    DaysSinceEpoch
  from airlineStats
  GROUP BY DaysSinceEpoch
)

SELECT DaysSinceEpoch,
  num_trips,
  LEAD(num_trips, 2) OVER (
    ORDER BY DaysSinceEpoch
  ) AS previous_num_trips,
  num_trips - LEAD(num_trips, 2) OVER (
    ORDER BY DaysSinceEpoch
  ) AS difference
FROM tmp;