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MaxCompute:LOG2

Last Updated:Mar 26, 2026

Calculates the base-2 logarithm of a number. LOG2 is an additional function in MaxCompute V2.0.

Note

LOG2 requires the MaxCompute V2.0 data type edition. Run the following command in the same session before executing LOG2 queries:

set odps.sql.type.system.odps2=true;

Syntax

double log2(<number>)

The return type is DOUBLE.

Parameters

ParameterRequiredAccepted types
numberYesDOUBLE, BIGINT, INT, SMALLINT, TINYINT, FLOAT, DECIMAL, STRING

Return value

Returns a DOUBLE value. Returns NULL in the following cases:

  • number is NULL

  • number is 0

  • number is negative

Examples

Static examples

-- Returns null
select log2(null);

-- Returns null
select log2(0);

-- Returns 3.0
select log2(8);

Table example

The following example uses the mf_math_fun_t sample table. To create it and insert sample data, run:

create table if not exists mf_math_fun_t(
    int_data     int,
    bigint_data  bigint,
    double_data  double,
    decimal_data decimal,
    float_data   float,
    string_data  string
);
insert into mf_math_fun_t values
(null, -10, 0.525, 0.525BD, cast(0.525 as float), '10'),
(-20, null, -0.1, -0.1BD, cast(-0.1 as float), '-10'),
(0, -1, null, 20.45BD, cast(-1 as float), '30'),
(-40, 4, 0.89, null, cast(0.89 as float), '-30'),
(5, -50, -1, -1BD, null, '50'),
(-60, 6, 1.5, 1.5BD, cast(1.5 as float), '-50'),
(-1, -70, -7.5, -7.5BD, cast(-7.5 as float), null),
(-80, 1, -10.2, -10.2BD, cast(-10.2 as float), '-1'),
(9, -90, 2.58, 2.58BD, cast(2.58 as float), '0'),
(-100, 10, -5.8, -5.8BD, cast(-5.8 as float), '-90');

To verify the inserted data, run:

select * from mf_math_fun_t;

The following result is returned:

+------------+-------------+-------------+--------------+------------+-------------+
| int_data   | bigint_data | double_data | decimal_data | float_data | string_data |
+------------+-------------+-------------+--------------+------------+-------------+
| NULL       | -10         | 0.525       | 0.525        | 0.525      | 10          |
| -20        | NULL        | -0.1        | -0.1         | -0.1       | -10         |
| 0          | -1          | NULL        | 20.45        | -1.0       | 30          |
| -40        | 4           | 0.89        | NULL         | 0.89       | -30         |
| 5          | -50         | -1.0        | -1           | NULL       | 50          |
| -60        | 6           | 1.5         | 1.5          | 1.5        | -50         |
| -1         | -70         | -7.5        | -7.5         | -7.5       | NULL        |
| -80        | 1           | -10.2       | -10.2        | -10.2      | -1          |
| 9          | -90         | 2.58        | 2.58         | 2.58       | 0           |
| -100       | 10          | -5.8        | -5.8         | -5.8       | -90         |
+------------+-------------+-------------+--------------+------------+-------------+

Apply LOG2 to all columns:

set odps.sql.type.system.odps2=true;
select log2(int_data)     as int_new,
       log2(bigint_data)  as bigint_new,
       log2(double_data)  as double_new,
       log2(decimal_data) as decimal_new,
       log2(float_data)   as float_new,
       log2(string_data)  as string_new
from mf_math_fun_t;

Result:

+--------------------+--------------------+----------------------+--------------------+----------------------+--------------------+
| int_new            | bigint_new         | double_new           | decimal_new        | float_new            | string_new         |
+--------------------+--------------------+----------------------+--------------------+----------------------+--------------------+
| NULL               | NULL               | -0.929610672108602   | -0.929610672108602 | -0.9296107376258038  | 3.3219280948873626 |
| NULL               | NULL               | NULL                 | NULL               | NULL                 | NULL               |
| NULL               | NULL               | NULL                 | 4.354028938054387  | NULL                 | 4.906890595608519  |
| NULL               | 2.0                | -0.16812275880832692 | NULL               | -0.16812278199699915 | NULL               |
| 2.321928094887362  | NULL               | NULL                 | NULL               | NULL                 | 5.643856189774724  |
| NULL               | 2.584962500721156  | 0.5849625007211562   | 0.5849625007211562 | 0.5849625007211562   | NULL               |
| NULL               | NULL               | NULL                 | NULL               | NULL                 | NULL               |
| NULL               | 0.0                | NULL                 | NULL               | NULL                 | NULL               |
| 3.1699250014423126 | NULL               | 1.3673710656485296   | 1.3673710656485296 | 1.367371022986166    | NULL               |
| NULL               | 3.3219280948873626 | NULL                 | NULL               | NULL                 | NULL               |
+--------------------+--------------------+----------------------+--------------------+----------------------+--------------------+

Negative values, zero, and NULL inputs all return NULL. Positive values return the base-2 logarithm.

Related functions

LOG2 is a mathematical function. For other mathematical functions, see Mathematical functions.