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> Reference material for NTILE function

# NTILE OVER

Divides an ordered data set equally into the number of buckets specified by the argument value. Buckets are sequentially numbered 1 through the argument value.

For more information on usage, please refer to [Window Functions](/reference-sql/functions-reference/window).

## Syntax

```sql theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
NTILE( <value> ) OVER ( [ PARTITION BY <partition_by> ] ORDER BY <order_by> [ { ASC | DESC } ] )
```

## Parameters

| Parameter        | Description                                                                                          | Supported input types |
| :--------------- | :--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | :-------------------- |
| `<value>`        | An integer expression used for the `NTILE()` function to specify the number of buckets for division. | `INTEGER`/`BIGINT`    |
| `<partition_by>` | An expression used for the partition by clause.                                                      | Any                   |
| `<order_by>`     | An expression used for the order by clause.                                                          | Any                   |

## Return Type

`INTEGER`/`BIGINT`

If there is a remainder after dividing the rows in a partition by the argument value, it will result in buckets of different sizes. For example,

* `NTILE(2)` over 5 rows will result in 2 buckets, the first with 3 rows, the second with 2
* `NTILE(3)` over 5 rows results in 3 buckets, the first 2 with 2 rows each and the last with one.

## Example

The example below divides students test results into three buckets depending on their score.

```sql theme={"theme":{"light":"github-light","dark":"github-dark"}}
SELECT
	student_name,
	score,
	NTILE(3) OVER (ORDER BY score) AS bucket
FROM
	student_test_results
ORDER BY score;
```

**Returns**:

| student\_name | score | bucket |
| :------------ | :---- | :----- |
| James         | 9     | 1      |
| Emma          | 10    | 1      |
| Harry         | 11    | 1      |
| Liam          | 11    | 2      |
| Ava           | 12    | 2      |
| Charly        | 12    | 2      |
| Noah          | 13    | 3      |
| Olivia        | 13    | 3      |