SQL Running Total

There are multiple ways to calculate running totals in SQL. We will show two ways here: The first not using the window function, the second using the window function.

Not using window function

Calculating the running total without the window function requires us to first do a self-join, then list out the results in order. This is similar to finding a rank without using the window function. Where as finding the rank requires doing a count on the number of records that's listed ahead of (and including) the record of interest, finding the running total requires summing the values for the records that's listed ahead of (and including) the record of interest.

Let's use an example to illustrate. Say we have the following table,

Table Total_Sales

we would type,

Result:

The combination of the WHERE clause and the ORDER BY clause ensure that the proper running totals are tabulated when there are duplicate values.

Using window function

We will use the SUM() function as part of the window function as follows:

Result:

The SUM() function causes the window function to caluclate the sum of all the rows from the first row up to the current row. So, for Sophia, the running total column of 90 is the result of adding 50 and 40.

Notice the code involving the window function is much simpler and the logic is less complicated. Hence using the window function is seen as the preferred way to calculate running totals.

List of SQL Complex Operations