What are the syntax characteristics of SQL pivot?

The characteristics of SQL PIVOT syntax are as follows:

1. The PIVOT statement is used to transform row data into column data. It groups data in a table based on the values in a certain column and transforms the data in each group into new columns.
2. The PIVOT statement requires specifying two key components: the aggregation function and the pivot column. The aggregation function is used to calculate the value for each group, while the pivot column specifies which column will transform row data into column data.
3. The PIVOT statement requires the use of aggregate functions to process data from the original table. Common aggregate functions include SUM, COUNT, AVG, etc.
4. The PIVOT statement can specify a data source by using a subquery in the FROM clause, which can be a table, view, or the result set of another query.
5. The pivot column in a PIVOT statement must be a column from the original table. It is typically a column with discrete values, such as states, categories, or dates.
6. The PIVOT statement utilizes the PIVOT keyword to perform data rotation. Following the PIVOT keyword, you need to specify the column that is to be pivoted, the columns to be used for grouping, and use the FOR clause to specify the values to be grouped by, and the IN clause to specify the values to be rotated.
7. The PIVOT statement allows the use of multiple aggregate functions to manipulate the same column and then present the results as multiple new columns.
8. The result generated by a PIVOT statement is a new table where data from each group is transformed into new columns. The column names in the new table are generated based on the values of the pivoted column.

In conclusion, the PIVOT syntax in SQL allows for transforming row data into column data by specifying aggregation functions and rotating columns for data processing and pivot operations.