---
title: "MIN(A,B)"
slug: "engineeringdatefunction2-14"
updated: 2021-10-15T11:14:37Z
published: 2021-10-15T11:14:37Z
canonical: "docs.datajet.app/engineeringdatefunction2-14"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.datajet.app/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# MIN(A,B)

## Date Transform: MIN(A,B)

## Returns the earliest of two dates

## Purpose

Use this function to:

- Identify which of two events occurred first

## Return Value

| Property | Value |
| --- | --- |
| **FieldType** | Date |
| **FieldSize** |  |
| **DataType** | Discrete |
| **DataSize** | Short |

```shell
Example Return Value: 2021-09-08
```

![](https://cdn.document360.io/73b6469b-c1e4-47e9-aa65-986c8ebd17ca/Images/Documentation/MIN_Sample.PNG)

## Parameters

| Parameter | JSON | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Table** | “targetTable”: “MyTableName” | The target table on which the new field will be created |
| **Filter** | “dataset”: {DataSet_JSON} | Optional. If a filter is applied, records not in the filter Recordset will be returned as null. |
| **DateTimeFunction** | “p1”: “MIN(A,B)” | MIN(A,B) |
| **A** | “p2”: “DateTimeFieldName” “p2”: “DateFieldName” “p2”: “#YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS” “p2”: “#YYYY-MM-DD” | Required. Date formatted data. *Supports:* - **DataType:** Discrete / Continuous - **Field Type:** Date, DateTime - **Fixed Value:** #YYYY-MM-DD, e.g. #2021-04-05 - **Fixed Value:** #YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS, e.g. #2021-04-05 11:01:08 |
| **B** | “p3”: “DateTimeFieldName” “p3”: “DateFieldName” “p3”: “#YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS” “p3”: “#YYYY-MM-DD” | Required. Date formatted data. *Supports:* - **DataType:** Discrete / Continuous - **Field Type:** Date, DateTime - **Fixed Value:** #YYYY-MM-DD, e.g. #2021-04-05 - **Fixed Value:** #YYYY-MM-DD HH:MM:SS, e.g. #2021-04-05 11:01:08 |

## JSON Sample

![](https://cdn.document360.io/73b6469b-c1e4-47e9-aa65-986c8ebd17ca/Images/Documentation/MIN_JSON.PNG)

## Usage Notes

See also [MAX(A,B)](/v1/docs/engineeringdatefunction2-13)

## Example

| Example | Details |
| --- | --- |
| **Description** | Determine which event occurred first |
| **Input** | - Table: = [transactions] - Function: = DateTransform - **DateTimeFunction: = MIN(A,B)** - A:= [transactions].[dtShipping] - B: = [transactions].[dtPurchase] - Name: = EarliestContact |
| **Sample** | ![](https://cdn.document360.io/73b6469b-c1e4-47e9-aa65-986c8ebd17ca/Images/Documentation/MIN_Example.PNG) |