# Difference between SCALAR and COLUMN function

The DB2 SCALAR functions take a single column value and returns a single result. The COLUMN function takes the column value from multiple rows of a DB2 table and returns a single result. In case of SCALAR function only one row is involved.

 SCALAR FUNCTION DESCRIPTION LENGTH Gives the length of the column value REPLACE Used to replace a string with another string CONCAT Used to combine two or more column values INTEGER Gives the integer equivalent of the column value CHAR Gives the character equivalent of the column value

For example, if we have an ORDERS DB2 table and we want to return only the integer value of the ORDER_TOTAL for all the orders placed on 15-08-2020. We will use the below query.

## Example

SELECT ORDER_ID, INTEGER(ORDER_TOTAL) FROM ORDERS
WHERE ORDER_DATE = ‘15-08-2020’

In this case, if any ORDER_ID Z55641 is having the ORDER_TOTAL as 3422.89, then we will get the following result.

 ORDER_ID ORDER_TOTAL Z55641 3422