$max
Definition
Returns the maximum non-null value from one array expression or explicit operands.
Expression operator · Arrays · Studio Visual: available. Studio validates the complete expression separately.
Syntax
{ "$max": [ <value>, ... ] }
Replace angle-bracket placeholders with expressions or values.
Optional parameters may be omitted.
Parameters
| Parameter | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
value |
See argument count below | Expression supplying the value to evaluate. |
Arguments are positional: keep the order shown. Supply 1 or more arguments.
A single array-valued expression is also supported, for example {"$max": "$items"}. With multiple operands, array arguments are not recursively flattened.
Behavior
The following observations use the example expression below. Each row substitutes one argument while retaining the other example arguments. A missing field differs from an explicit null; the result shown is what Core actually returned.
For the value argument:
| Input case | Supplied value | Result |
|---|---|---|
| null | null | 3 (int32) |
| missing | Field absent | 3 (int32) |
| decimal | 2.5 | 3 (int32) |
| numeric string | "12" | "12" |
| text | "hello" | "hello" |
| boolean | true | true |
| typed date | {"$date":"2026-01-15T15:00:00Z"} | {'$numberLong': '1768489200000'} (date) |
| empty array | [] | [] |
| numeric array | [1,2,3] | [1,2,3] |
| object | {"x":1} | {"x":1} |
| null | null | 2 (int32) |
| missing | Field absent | 2 (int32) |
| decimal | 2.5 | 2.5 (double) |
| numeric string | "12" | "12" |
| text | "hello" | "hello" |
| boolean | true | true |
| typed date | {"$date":"2026-01-15T15:00:00Z"} | {'$numberLong': '1768489200000'} (date) |
| empty array | [] | [] |
| numeric array | [1,2,3] | [1,2,3] |
| object | {"x":1} | {"x":1} |
Argument handling
| Invocation | Result |
|---|---|
| {"$max":[]} | null |
| {"$max":{"unexpected":1}} | {"unexpected":1} |
Examples
Expression:
{
"$max": [
2,
3
]
}
Input document:
{}
Observed SrotaX result: 3 (int32).
Detailed input cases
Expand the complete argument-by-argument test matrix
Each table changes only the indicated argument from the example above. Other arguments retain their baseline values. Values normally come from the input field probe; literal configuration arguments are replaced directly. “Missing” means the field is absent, not explicitly null. Numeric strings are strings, not numbers.
Argument: value[0]
| Input case | Supplied value | SrotaX result |
|---|---|---|
| null | null | 3 (int32) |
| missing | Field absent | 3 (int32) |
| zero | 0 | 3 (int32) |
| negative | -2 | 3 (int32) |
| decimal | 2.5 | 3 (int32) |
| numeric string | "12" | "12" |
| text | "hello" | "hello" |
| empty string | "" | "" |
| boolean | true | true |
| false | false | false |
| typed date | {"$date":"2026-01-15T15:00:00Z"} | {'$numberLong': '1768489200000'} (date) |
| decimal128 | {"$numberDecimal":"1.25"} | 3 (int32) |
| empty array | [] | [] |
| numeric array | [1,2,3] | [1,2,3] |
| mixed array | [1,null,"x",3] | [1,null,"x",3] |
| nested array | [[1,2],[3]] | [[1,2],[3]] |
| empty object | {} | {} |
| object | {"x":1} | {"x":1} |
| ISO date string | "2026-01-15T15:00:00Z" | "2026-01-15T15:00:00Z" |
Argument: value[1]
| Input case | Supplied value | SrotaX result |
|---|---|---|
| null | null | 2 (int32) |
| missing | Field absent | 2 (int32) |
| zero | 0 | 2 (int32) |
| negative | -2 | 2 (int32) |
| decimal | 2.5 | 2.5 (double) |
| numeric string | "12" | "12" |
| text | "hello" | "hello" |
| empty string | "" | "" |
| boolean | true | true |
| false | false | false |
| typed date | {"$date":"2026-01-15T15:00:00Z"} | {'$numberLong': '1768489200000'} (date) |
| decimal128 | {"$numberDecimal":"1.25"} | 2 (int32) |
| empty array | [] | [] |
| numeric array | [1,2,3] | [1,2,3] |
| mixed array | [1,null,"x",3] | [1,null,"x",3] |
| nested array | [[1,2],[3]] | [[1,2],[3]] |
| empty object | {} | {} |
| object | {"x":1} | {"x":1} |
| ISO date string | "2026-01-15T15:00:00Z" | "2026-01-15T15:00:00Z" |
Argument: single array expression
| Input case | Supplied value | SrotaX result |
|---|---|---|
| single operand null | null | null |
| single operand missing | Field absent | null |
| single operand zero | 0 | 0 (int32) |
| single operand negative | -2 | -2 (int32) |
| single operand decimal | 2.5 | 2.5 (double) |
| single operand numeric string | "12" | "12" |
| single operand text | "hello" | "hello" |
| single operand empty string | "" | "" |
| single operand boolean | true | true |
| single operand false | false | false |
| single operand typed date | {"$date":"2026-01-15T15:00:00Z"} | {'$numberLong': '1768489200000'} (date) |
| single operand decimal128 | {"$numberDecimal":"1.25"} | 1.25 (decimal128) |
| single operand empty array | [] | null |
| single operand numeric array | [1,2,3] | 3 (int32) |
| single operand mixed array | [1,null,"x",3] | "x" |
| single operand nested array | [[1,2],[3]] | [3] |
| single operand empty object | {} | {} |
| single operand object | {"x":1} | {"x":1} |
| single operand ISO date string | "2026-01-15T15:00:00Z" | "2026-01-15T15:00:00Z" |
Verification
This page records 60 executed cases. It covers individual argument substitutions, not every cross-product of arguments, locale, daylight-saving transitions, numeric overflow, collation or resource limits. No untested behavior is guaranteed.
Download exact expressions, inputs and SrotaX results. Errors are observed messages, not stable public error codes. The reference generator reads the checked-in execution report; do not edit generated observations by hand.
MongoDB differences
Compared with MongoDB 9.0.4: 60 exact BSON matches, 0 both rejected, 0 value/type/acceptance differences, 0 object-field-order differences.
“Exact” includes numeric BSON types and object key order. A value of 3 as int32 differs from 3.0 as double. Object-field-order differences are reported separately; object key ordering is not enforced by the engine regression baseline. Both rejected does not mean the error codes or messages match. This is finite-case evidence, not full compatibility certification.
No differences were observed in the compared cases.