# max()

`max(col [, ...cols])` returns the maximum value of the provided column(s) in the input datastream. If multiple columns are provided, their values are lexically ordered as a tuple.

### Note

`max(a, b)` is not the same as `max(a), max(b)`. To get the maximum values of multiple columns, run a `stats` query, e.g. `stats max(a), max(b)`. See [stats()](https://docs.scanner.dev/scanner/using-scanner-complete-feature-reference/querying-and-analysis/aggregation-functions/stats) for more information.

### Ordering

Ordering is alphabetical/lexical for strings, and numeric for numbers. If multiple columns are supplied, the ordering of the whole is evaluated lexically as a tuple, e.g. we compare the first values, then, if they're equal, we compare the second values, then, if they're equal, we compare the third values, etc.

If a field contains data of multiple types, numeric values are considered greater than text values, and text values are considered greater than `null` values. E.g.:

* `[1] < [2]`
* `["a"] < ["aa"]`
* `["a"] < [1]`
* `[1, 2] < [2, 1]`
* `[1, 1] < [1, 2]`
* `["ab", "a"] > ["a", "ca"]`
* `["ab", 1] > ["a", 2]`
* `[1, null] < [1, 2]`

## Returns

A table with one row and one column for each `col` provided, called `@q.max[i]`, where `i` is the index of `col` in the arguments. If only one `col` was provided, the column is called `@q.max`.

## Example

Return the maximum elapsed time for a request in the **checkout\_api** service.

```python
%ingest.source_type: "kubernetes"
and kubernetes.container_name: "checkout_api"
| max(log.%kv.elapsed_ms)
```