# MEDIAN

## Syntax

```sql
MEDIAN(median expression) OVER (
  [ PARTITION BY partition_expression ] 
)
```

## Description

`MEDIAN()` is a [window function](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-functions/special-functions/window-functions) that returns the median value of a range of values.

It is a specific case of [PERCENTILE\_CONT](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-functions/special-functions/window-functions/percentile_cont), with an argument of 0.5 and the [ORDER BY](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/data-manipulation/selecting-data/order-by) column the one in `MEDIAN`'s argument.

```sql
MEDIAN(<median-arg>) OVER ( [ PARTITION BY partition_expression] )
```

Is equivalent to:

```sql
PERCENTILE_CONT(0.5) WITHIN 
  GROUP (ORDER BY <median-arg>) OVER ( [ PARTITION BY partition_expression ])
```

## Examples

```sql
CREATE TABLE book_rating (name CHAR(30), star_rating TINYINT);

INSERT INTO book_rating VALUES ('Lord of the Ladybirds', 5);
INSERT INTO book_rating VALUES ('Lord of the Ladybirds', 3);
INSERT INTO book_rating VALUES ('Lady of the Flies', 1);
INSERT INTO book_rating VALUES ('Lady of the Flies', 2);
INSERT INTO book_rating VALUES ('Lady of the Flies', 5);

SELECT name, median(star_rating) OVER (PARTITION BY name) FROM book_rating;
+-----------------------+----------------------------------------------+
| name                  | median(star_rating) OVER (PARTITION BY name) |
+-----------------------+----------------------------------------------+
| Lord of the Ladybirds |                                 4.0000000000 |
| Lord of the Ladybirds |                                 4.0000000000 |
| Lady of the Flies     |                                 2.0000000000 |
| Lady of the Flies     |                                 2.0000000000 |
| Lady of the Flies     |                                 2.0000000000 |
+-----------------------+----------------------------------------------+
```

## See Also

* [PERCENTILE\_CONT](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-functions/special-functions/window-functions/percentile_cont)

<sub>*This page is licensed: CC BY-SA / Gnu FDL*</sub>

{% @marketo/form formId="4316" %}


---

# Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation

If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter:

```
GET https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-functions/special-functions/window-functions/median.md?ask=<question>
```

The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.