# ZPOPMAX

> Pop members with highest scores.

Use `ZPOPMAX` to remove and return the members with the highest scores in a sorted set.

Without a count one member is returned with its score, and with a count up to that many are removed, ordered from the highest score down. A missing or empty key returns an empty result, and the key is deleted once the last member is popped.

Since the read and the removal are atomic, no two workers can take the same member, which turns a sorted set into a priority queue where the score is the priority. [`BZPOPMAX`](/redis/commands/sorted-set/bzpopmax) is the blocking form.

## Syntax

```redis
ZPOPMAX <key> [<count>]
```

## Arguments

| Argument | Required | Repeatable | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `<key>` | Yes | No | Redis key targeted by the command. |
| `<count>` | No | No | Number of members to pop. |

## Important points

- RESP2 represents floating-point reply values as bulk strings; RESP3 may use native double replies. Client libraries commonly decode either form to a language number.

## Response

The reply reports the result of the operation. Error replies have the same shape in RESP2 and RESP3 and are surfaced as exceptions by the SDKs below.

| Protocol | Reply |
| --- | --- |
| RESP2 | Flat array of alternating members and bulk-string scores |
| RESP3 | Without `<count>`, a two-element array of the member and its double score; with `<count>`, an array of such two-element arrays |

<Note>
  Client libraries often decode bulk strings, maps, sets, and numeric strings into language-native values. The table describes the Redis wire reply.
</Note>

## Examples

TCP examples use the TLS `REDIS_URL` from the Upstash console. REST examples use `UPSTASH_REDIS_REST_URL` and `UPSTASH_REDIS_REST_TOKEN`.

<AccordionGroup>

<Accordion title="Redis CLI" icon="terminal">

```bash
ZPOPMAX my-key
```

</Accordion>

<Accordion title="@upstash/redis" icon="node-js" iconType="brands">

```ts
import { Redis } from "@upstash/redis";

const redis = Redis.fromEnv();

const popped = await redis.zpopmax("key", 4);
```

</Accordion>

<Accordion title="upstash_redis" icon="python" iconType="brands">

```python
from upstash_redis import Redis

redis = Redis.from_env()
result = redis.zpopmax("my-key")
print(result)
```

</Accordion>

<Accordion title="ioredis" icon="node-js" iconType="brands">

```ts
import Redis from "ioredis";

const redis = new Redis(process.env.REDIS_URL!);
const result = await redis.zpopmax("my-key");
console.log(result);
```

</Accordion>

<Accordion title="node-redis" icon="node-js" iconType="brands">

```ts
import { createClient } from "redis";

const client = await createClient({ url: process.env.REDIS_URL })
  .on("error", console.error)
  .connect();
const result = await client.zPopMax("my-key");
console.log(result);
```

</Accordion>

<Accordion title="redis-py" icon="python" iconType="brands">

```python
import os
import redis

client = redis.from_url(os.environ["REDIS_URL"])
result = client.zpopmax("my-key")
print(result)
```

</Accordion>

<Accordion title="go-redis" icon="golang" iconType="brands">

```go
package main

import (
    "context"
    "fmt"
    "os"

    "github.com/redis/go-redis/v9"
)

func main() {
    opts, err := redis.ParseURL(os.Getenv("REDIS_URL"))
    if err != nil {
        panic(err)
    }
    client := redis.NewClient(opts)
    result, err := client.ZPopMax(context.Background(), "my-key").Result()
    if err != nil {
        panic(err)
    }
    fmt.Println(result)
}
```

</Accordion>

<Accordion title="jedis" icon="java" iconType="brands">

```java
import java.net.URI;

import redis.clients.jedis.Jedis;

try (Jedis jedis = new Jedis(new URI(System.getenv("REDIS_URL")))) {
  Object result = jedis.zpopmax("my-key");
  System.out.println(result);
}
```

</Accordion>

<Accordion title="redis-rs" icon="rust" iconType="brands">

```rust
use redis::TypedCommands;

fn main() -> redis::RedisResult<()> {
    let url = std::env::var("REDIS_URL").expect("REDIS_URL is not set");
    let client = redis::Client::open(url)?;
    let mut connection = client.get_connection()?;

    let result = connection.zpopmax("my-key", 1)?;
    println!("{result:?}");
    Ok(())
}
```

</Accordion>

</AccordionGroup>