top-hitters operator
Applies to: ✅ Microsoft Fabric ✅ Azure Data Explorer ✅ Azure Monitor ✅ Microsoft Sentinel
Returns an approximation for the most popular distinct values, or the values with the largest sum, in the input.
Note
top-hitters
uses an approximation algorithm optimized for performance
when the input data is large.
The approximation is based on the Count-Min-Sketch algorithm.
Syntax
T |
top-hitters
NumberOfValues of
ValueExpression [ by
SummingExpression ]
Learn more about syntax conventions.
Parameters
Name | Type | Required | Description |
---|---|---|---|
T | string |
✔️ | The input tabular expression. |
NumberOfValues | int, long, or real | ✔️ | The number of distinct values of ValueExpression. |
ValueExpression | string |
✔️ | An expression over the input table T whose distinct values are returned. |
SummingExpression | string |
If specified, a numeric expression over the input table T whose sum per distinct value of ValueExpression establishes which values to emit. If not specified, the count of each distinct value of ValueExpression is used instead. |
Remarks
The first syntax (no SummingExpression) is conceptually equivalent to:
T
|
summarize
C``=``count()
by
ValueExpression
|
top
NumberOfValues by C
desc
The second syntax (with SummingExpression) is conceptually equivalent to:
T
|
summarize
S``=``sum(*SummingExpression*)
by
ValueExpression
|
top
NumberOfValues by S
desc
Examples
Get most frequent items
The next example shows how to find top-5 types of storms.
StormEvents
| top-hitters 5 of EventType
Output
EventType | approximate_count_EventType |
---|---|
Thunderstorm Wind | 13015 |
Hail | 12711 |
Flash Flood | 3688 |
Drought | 3616 |
Winter Weather | 3349 |
Get top hitters based on column value
The next example shows how to find the States with the most "Thunderstorm Wind" events.
StormEvents
| where EventType == "Thunderstorm Wind"
| top-hitters 10 of State
Output
State | approximate_sum_State |
---|---|
TEXAS | 830 |
GEORGIA | 609 |
MICHIGAN | 602 |
IOWA | 585 |
PENNSYLVANIA | 549 |
ILLINOIS | 533 |
NEW YORK | 502 |
VIRGINIA | 482 |
KANSAS | 476 |
OHIO | 455 |