power ↗

Use the power() function to calculate the value of a number raised to the power of another number. This function is an alias for pow().

Syntax

power(<base>, <exponent>)

Parameters

Name Type Required Description
base integer, float Yes The base number to be raised.
exponent integer, float Yes The exponent to which the base is raised.

Returns

Type: float

Description: The power() function returns the numerical result of the base raised to the power of the exponent. If either input is null, the function returns null.

Usage notes

  • Input type: XQL doesn't support NaN or infinite values as input and these value types also can not be returned.
  • Alias: power() is functionally identical to pow(). Both functions can be used interchangeably.
  • Valid Input Range: The function accepts any numeric values for both base and exponent, including negative numbers and zero.
  • Null Handling: If either input expression is null, the function returns null.
  • Special Cases: power(x, 0) returns 1.0 for any non-zero x. power(0, 0) returns 1.0. power(0, n) returns 0.0 for n > 0.
  • Negative Base: When the base is negative and the exponent is not an integer, the result may be NaN.
  • Common Use Cases: This function is typically used within the alter stage for exponential calculations, area/volume computations, and scientific formulas.

Examples

Example 1: Calculate power of literal values

Goal: Calculate specific power operations to verify known mathematical results.

XQL code:

dataset = xdr_data
| limit 1
| alter result1 = power(2, 10), result2 = power(3, 3), result3 = power(10, -2)
| fields result1, result2, result3

Explanation: power(2, 10) returns 1024 (2^10), power(3, 3) returns 27 (3^3), and power(10, -2) returns 0.01 (10^-2 = 1/100).

Output:

RESULT1 RESULT2 RESULT3
1024 27 0.01

Example 2: Square field values using power

Goal: Calculate the square of values stored in a dataset field.

XQL code:

config timeframe = 1d
| dataset = sample_xql_raw
| alter squared_value = power(duration_seconds, 2)
| fields event_id, duration_seconds, squared_value
| limit 3

Explanation: This query squares each value in the duration_seconds field using power() with an exponent of 2. For example, 1.5 squared is 2.25.

Output:

EVENT_ID DURATION_SECONDS SQUARED_VALUE
101 1.5 2.25
102 0.8 0.64
103 10.2 104.04

Example 3: Calculate square root using power with fractional exponent

Goal: Demonstrate that power(x, 0.5) is equivalent to the square root.

XQL code:

config timeframe = 1d
| dataset = sample_xql_raw
| filter numeric_value > 0
| alter sqrt_via_power = power(numeric_value, 0.5)
| alter sqrt_direct = sqrt(numeric_value)
| fields event_id, numeric_value, sqrt_via_power, sqrt_direct
| limit 3

Explanation: This query demonstrates that raising a number to the power of 0.5 is equivalent to taking its square root. Both power(x, 0.5) and sqrt(x) produce the same result.

Output:

EVENT_ID NUMERIC_VALUE SQRT_VIA_POWER SQRT_DIRECT
101 4.0 2.0 2.0
102 9.0 3.0 3.0
103 16.0 4.0 4.0