{% hint style="info" %}
[Vectors](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-structure/vectors) are available from [MariaDB 11.7](https://app.gitbook.com/s/aEnK0ZXmUbJzqQrTjFyb/community-server/old-releases/11.7/what-is-mariadb-117).
{% endhint %}
## Syntax
```sql
VEC_DISTANCE(v, s)
```
## Description
`VEC_DISTANCE` is a generic function that behaves either as [VEC\_DISTANCE\_EUCLIDEAN](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-functions/vector-functions/vec_distance_euclidean), calculating the Euclidean (L2) distance between two points. Or [VEC\_DISTANCE\_COSINE](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-functions/vector-functions/vec_distance_cosine), calculating the Cosine distance between two vectors, depending on the underlying index type.
If the underlying index cannot be determined, an [error 4206](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/error-codes/mariadb-error-codes-4200-to-4299/e4206) is returned:
```sql
ERROR 4206 (HY000): Cannot determine distance type for VEC_DISTANCE, index is not found
```
## Example
```sql
INSERT INTO v VALUES
(1, x'e360d63ebe554f3fcdbc523f4522193f5236083d'),
(2, x'f511303f72224a3fdd05fe3eb22a133ffae86a3f'),
(3,x'f09baa3ea172763f123def3e0c7fe53e288bf33e'),
(4,x'b97a523f2a193e3eb4f62e3f2d23583e9dd60d3f'),
(5,x'f7c5df3e984b2b3e65e59d3d7376db3eac63773e'),
(6,x'de01453ffa486d3f10aa4d3fdd66813c71cb163f'),
(7,x'76edfc3e4b57243f10f8423fb158713f020bda3e'),
(8,x'56926c3fdf098d3e2c8c5e3d1ad4953daa9d0b3e'),
(9,x'7b713f3e5258323f80d1113d673b2b3f66e3583f'),
(10,x'6ca1d43e9df91b3fe580da3e1c247d3f147cf33e');
SELECT id FROM v
ORDER BY VEC_DISTANCE(v, x'6ca1d43e9df91b3fe580da3e1c247d3f147cf33e');
+----+
| id |
+----+
| 10 |
| 7 |
| 3 |
| 9 |
| 2 |
| 1 |
| 5 |
| 4 |
| 6 |
| 8 |
+----+
```
## See Also
* [VEC\_DISTANCE\_COSINE](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-functions/vector-functions/vec_distance_cosine)
* [VEC\_DISTANCE\_EUCLIDEAN](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-functions/vector-functions/vec_distance_euclidean)
* [Vector Overview](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-structure/vectors/vector-overview)
* [CREATE TABLE with Vectors](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-structure/vectors/create-table-with-vectors)
*This page is licensed: CC BY-SA / Gnu FDL*
{% @marketo/form formId="4316" %}