Round up to the nearest integer?

Peer-reviewed by HireXTech Technical Panel • Updated for 2025/2026 hiring • Editorial standards

Interviewer Expectations for this Question

Core Competency

Assesses fundamental understanding of SQL & Databases conventions, runtime behavior, and memory/performance considerations.

Evaluation Criteria

Hiring managers look for precision, avoidance of ambiguous jargon, and ability to explain trade-offs under real production conditions.

Comprehensive Model Answer Verified Solution

To round a numeric value up to the next nearest integer, use the CEIL() (or CEILING()) function:

SELECT CEIL(25.01);   -- Returns 26
SELECT CEIL(25.00);   -- Returns 25
SELECT CEIL(-25.80);  -- Returns -25

### Related Rounding Functions:

FLOOR(x): Rounds down towards negative infinity (FLOOR(25.99) -> 25).
ROUND(x, d): Rounds to d decimal places following standard mathematical rounding (ROUND(25.5) -> 26).
TRUNCATE(x, d): Truncates digits past d decimal places without rounding.

Start with a concise one-sentence summary: Deliver a direct, confident answer first before expanding into nuances.
Demonstrate real-world trade-offs: Discuss where this approach excels and when you would avoid it in production systems.
Discuss complexity & edge cases: Proactively explain time/space complexity or boundary conditions (null values, scale limits).
Prepare for interviewer follow-ups: Technical hiring panels frequently probe deeper into concurrency, backward compatibility, or alternative libraries.

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