# MAX
URL: https://docs.valsight.ai/max/
Description: The MAX function returns the maximum of matching values from two inputs. Both inputs must have either the same dimensionality or one input must be a number, in which case the result has the dimensionality of the other input.
**Category:** [Math & numeric](/math-numeric/)

## Overview

The **MAX** function **returns the maximum of matching values from two inputs**. Both inputs must have either the same dimensionality or one input must be a number, in which case the result has the dimensionality of the other input.

Use this function when you need the row-wise maximum of two nodes or when you want to apply a lower threshold (floor) to a node.

## Syntax

`MAX('Node1', 'Node2')`

**Example usage:** `MAX('Revenue', 0)`

## Parameters

| Parameter | Description                                                                                  | Type                     | Required |
| --------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------ | -------- |
| **Node1** | First input, specified using the node name in single quotes (e.g.`'Revenue'`) or a number    | Node reference or number | Yes      |
| **Node2** | Second input, specified using the node name in single quotes (e.g.`'Threshold'`) or a number | Node reference or number | Yes      |

## Output shape

| Aspect         | Behavior                                                                                                                  |
| -------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Dimensionality | Same as the input with levels. If one input is a constant (number), the result has the dimensionality of the other input. |
| Values         | For each matching row, the higher of the two values is returned.                                                          |
| Row count      | Same as input.                                                                                                            |

## Watch out

* If both inputs have levels, they **must have the same dimensionality**. Unlike multiplication or division, MAX does not perform dimension union or intersection.
* One input can be a **constant number** (e.g. `0`, `100`). In that case, the constant is compared against every row of the other input.

## Examples

### Row-wise maximum across two inputs

This example shows MAX applied both to two input nodes and to a node combined with a fixed numeric threshold.

**Input node:** `'A'`

| Year | Value |
| ---- | ----- |
| 2025 | 32    |
| 2026 | -42   |
| 2027 | -17   |

**Input node:** `'B'`

| Year | Value |
| ---- | ----- |
| 2025 | 41    |
| 2026 | 12    |
| 2027 | -25   |

**Formula:** `MAX('A', 'B')`

| Year | MAX Result |
| ---- | ---------- |
| 2025 | 41         |
| 2026 | 12         |
| 2027 | -17        |

**Formula:** `MAX('A', 7)`

| Year | MAX Result |
| ---- | ---------- |
| 2025 | 32         |
| 2026 | 7          |
| 2027 | 7          |

### Using MAX as a floor (clamp negative values to zero)

A common pattern: use `MAX('Node', 0)` to ensure no negative values appear in the result.

**Input node:** `'Margin'`

| Year | Value |
| ---- | ----- |
| 2025 | 15    |
| 2026 | -8    |
| 2027 | 22    |
| 2028 | -3    |

**Formula:** `MAX('Margin', 0)`

| Year | MAX Result |
| ---- | ---------- |
| 2025 | 15         |
| 2026 | 0          |
| 2027 | 22         |
| 2028 | 0          |

Negative margins are replaced with 0. Positive margins are kept as-is.

## Related

| Function     | When to use instead                                                                    |
| ------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| [MIN](/min/) | When you need the row-wise minimum of two nodes or thresholds instead of the maximum.  |
| [ABS](/abs/) | When you need absolute values of one node rather than a comparison between two inputs. |