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title: VARIANCE/VAR_SAMP
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---
# `VARIANCE/VAR_SAMP`

**Applies to:** ✅ Data 360 SQL ✅ Tableau Hyper API

Computes the sample variance of input values.

## Syntax

```sql
variance(<expression>)
```

## Arguments

### Required

- `<expression>`: An expression of any numerical type.

## Returns

- `NUMERIC(38,6)` for integer-type or numeric arguments.
- `double precision` for floating-point arguments.

Returns NULL if the computation is meaningless.

## Considerations

- Uses N-1 in the denominator (Bessel's correction).
- Variance is the square of the standard deviation.
- Use `VAR_POP` for population variance.
- Cast the input to `double precision` to get a `double precision` result.

## Examples

### Calculate Variance

Find the variance of prices.

```sql
SELECT variance(price) AS price_variance
FROM products;
```

### Variance by Group

Calculate variance for each category.

```sql
SELECT category, variance(price) AS price_variance
FROM products
GROUP BY category;
```

## Related Documentation

- [VAR_POP](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/data/data-cloud-query-guide/references/dc-sql-reference/var-pop.md)
- [COVAR_SAMP/VAR_SAMP](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/data/data-cloud-query-guide/references/dc-sql-reference/covar-samp.md)
- [STDDEV](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/data/data-cloud-query-guide/references/dc-sql-reference/stddev.md)
- [Aggregate Functions](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/data/data-cloud-query-guide/references/dc-sql-reference/aggregate.md)