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> Reference material for VECTOR_SUBTRACT function

# VECTOR_SUBTRACT

## VECTOR\_SUBTRACT

Returns an array that is the difference of two input arrays.

## Syntax

```sql theme={"theme":{"light":"css-variables","dark":"css-variables"}}
VECTOR_SUBTRACT(<array>, <array>)
```

## Parameters

| Parameter | Description                                     | Supported input types                                                 |
| :-------- | :---------------------------------------------- | :-------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `<array>` | The first array in the difference calculation.  | Any array of [numeric data types](/reference-sql/data-types#numeric). |
| `<array>` | The second array in the difference calculation. | Any array of [numeric data types](/reference-sql/data-types#numeric). |

## Notes

Both input `array` arguments must have the same number of elements.

## Return Type

`VECTOR_SUBTRACT` returns a result of type `ARRAY(BIGINT)` if the elements of `<array>` are of type `INT`, and returns a result of type `ARRAY(DOUBLE PRECISION)` if the elements are of type `REAL`. For other element types, `VECTOR_ADD` returns a result that matches the original element type, or follows Firebolt's [type conversion](/reference-sql/data-types#type-conversion) rules to convert them to compatible data types.

## Examples

**Example**

The following example subtracts the vector `[3, 4, -2]` from `[1, 5, 6]` by computing `1-3`, `5-4`, and `6-(-2)`, which yields `[-2, 1, 8]`:

<div className="query-window">
  ```
  SELECT VECTOR_SUBTRACT([1, 5, 6], [3, 4, -2]) AS res;
  ```

  | res <span>array(long)</span> |
  | :--------------------------- |
  | \['-2', '1', '8']            |

  <p><span>Rows: 1</span><span>Execution time: 5.53ms</span></p>
</div>