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## `math:abs()`

Calculates the absolute value of a field.

### Note

Math functions on ARM architecture may return different results in very high-precision calculationsc compared to Intel/AMD architectures.

Parameter | Type | Required | Default Value | Description
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
`as` | string | optional[a] | `_abs` | The name of the output field.
`field`[b] | string | required |  | The name of the input field.
[a] Optional parameters use their default value unless explicitly set. [b] The parameter name `field` can be omitted.

Hide omitted argument names for this function

Show omitted argument names for this function

> Omitted Argument Names

> The argument name for `field` can be omitted; the following forms of this function are equivalent:

> logscale Syntax

>     math:abs("value")

> and:

> logscale Syntax

>     math:abs(field="value")

> These examples show basic structure only.

### `math:abs()` Examples

Click + next to an example below to get the full details.

#### Calculate Absolute Value

Calculate the absolute value using the `math:abs()` function

##### Query

logscale

    x := -3.5
    | math:abs(x, as=result)

##### Introduction

In this example, the `math:abs()` function is used to calculate the absolute value of a negative number, demonstrating how it returns the positive version of that number.

##### Step-by-Step

1. Starting with the source repository events.

2. logscale

       x := -3.5

   Assigns the negative value `-3.5` to field x. This value will demonstrate how the absolute value function removes the negative sign.

3. logscale

       | math:abs(x, as=result)

   Calculates the absolute value of the number in field x and returns the result in a field named result. If the `as` parameter is not specified, the result is returned in a field named _abs as default.

4. Event Result set.

##### Summary and Results

The query is used to find the absolute value of a number, which is useful when you need to know the size of a value without considering whether it is positive or negative.

This query is useful, for example, to calculate distances, determine the size of differences, or measure deviations from a reference point.

Sample output from the incoming example data:

result
3.5

The result shows that the absolute value of `-3.5` is `3.5`, demonstrating how the function removes the negative sign.

Note that the `math:abs()` function works with both integer and decimal values. For example, `math:abs(-3.5) = 3.5`, `math:abs(3.5) = 3.5`, and `math:abs(0) = 0`.

The `math:abs()` function is particularly useful in dashboards where you need to analyze values regardless of their sign, such as measuring deviations from a baseline or calculating differences between values.

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