# ABS function
<a name="ABS"></a>

 ABS calculates the absolute value of a number, where that number can be a literal or an expression that evaluates to a number. 

## Syntax
<a name="ABS-synopsis"></a>

```
ABS (number)
```

## Arguments
<a name="ABS-arguments"></a>

 *number*   
Number or expression that evaluates to a number. It can be the SMALLINT, INTEGER, BIGINT, DECIMAL, FLOAT4, or FLOAT8 type.

## Return type
<a name="ABS-return-type"></a>

ABS returns the same data type as its argument. 

## Examples
<a name="ABS-examples"></a>

Calculate the absolute value of -38: 

```
select abs (-38);
abs
-------
38
(1 row)
```

Calculate the absolute value of (14-76): 

```
select abs (14-76);
abs
-------
62
(1 row)
```