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sum aggregate function [Oracle SQL]

select
  sum( numeric-expression ) [, col_1]
from table_name
[group by col_1 ] 
sum is an aggregate function. It returns the sum of its numeric-expressions for each group indicated in the group by clause.

sum() containing nulls

When null is used in a mathematical expression in SQL, the result is null, as for example in:
select 5+7+null+9 from dual;
5+7+NULL+9
----------

However, if a sum() is created over some numbers, nulls are disregarded as the following example shows:
create table group_by_sum (
  a number,
  b number
);

insert into group_by_sum values (    1,  1);
insert into group_by_sum values (   10,  1);
insert into group_by_sum values (  100,  1);
insert into group_by_sum values ( 1000,  1);
insert into group_by_sum values (    2,  2);
insert into group_by_sum values (   20,  2);
insert into group_by_sum values (  200,  2);
insert into group_by_sum values ( 2000,  2);
insert into group_by_sum values ( null  2);

select sum(a), b from group_by_sum
 group by b;
    SUM(A)          B
---------- ----------
      1111          1
      2222          2