---
title: R2 SQL now supports window functions, DISTINCT, and set operations
description: Use window functions, QUALIFY, SELECT DISTINCT, set operations, and exact aggregates in R2 SQL.
image: https://developers.cloudflare.com/changelog-preview.png
---

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## R2 SQL now supports window functions, DISTINCT, and set operations

Jun 22, 2026 

[ R2 SQL ](https://developers.cloudflare.com/r2-sql/) 

R2 SQL now supports window functions, `SELECT DISTINCT`, set operations, and additional aggregates, making it easier to write analytical queries without preprocessing your data elsewhere.

[R2 SQL](https://developers.cloudflare.com/r2-sql/) is Cloudflare's serverless, distributed SQL engine for querying [Apache Iceberg ↗](https://iceberg.apache.org/) tables stored in [R2 Data Catalog](https://developers.cloudflare.com/r2/data-catalog/).

#### New capabilities

* **Window functions** — `ROW_NUMBER`, `RANK`, `DENSE_RANK`, `PERCENT_RANK`, `CUME_DIST`, `NTILE`, `LAG`, `LEAD`, `FIRST_VALUE`, `LAST_VALUE`, `NTH_VALUE`, and aggregates with an `OVER (...)` clause, including `PARTITION BY` and explicit frames
* **QUALIFY** — filter rows based on a window function result
* **DISTINCT** — `SELECT DISTINCT`, `DISTINCT ON (...)`, and the `DISTINCT` modifier on aggregates such as `COUNT(DISTINCT ...)`
* **Set operations** — `UNION`, `UNION ALL`, `INTERSECT`, and `EXCEPT`
* **Grouping extensions** — `GROUPING SETS`, `ROLLUP`, and `CUBE`
* **Exact aggregates** — `MEDIAN`, `PERCENTILE_CONT`, `ARRAY_AGG`, and `STRING_AGG`

#### Examples

#### Rank rows with a window function

```
SELECT customer_id, region,       ROW_NUMBER() OVER (PARTITION BY region ORDER BY total_amount DESC) AS rank_in_regionFROM my_namespace.sales_data
```

#### Filter with QUALIFY

```
SELECT customer_id, region, total_amountFROM my_namespace.sales_dataQUALIFY ROW_NUMBER() OVER (PARTITION BY region ORDER BY total_amount DESC) <= 3
```

#### Combine tables with a set operation

```
SELECT customer_id FROM my_namespace.sales_dataEXCEPTSELECT customer_id FROM my_namespace.archived_sales
```

The named `WINDOW` clause is not supported — inline the `OVER (...)` specification at each call site. For the full syntax reference, refer to the [SQL reference](https://developers.cloudflare.com/r2-sql/sql-reference/). For supported features and performance guidance, refer to [Limitations and best practices](https://developers.cloudflare.com/r2-sql/reference/limitations-best-practices/).

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