Business Intelligence (BI) is becoming an essential tool for companies to gain insights into their data. One of the most common requirements of BI users is the ability to identify the highest or lowest values in a dataset.
This is where Top-N queries come in. A Top-N query is a query that retrieves the top or bottom N rows from a table, sorted by a particular column.
In this article, we will discuss the definition, use, and benefits of Top-N queries. We will also explore the role of database/BI developers in enabling users to get results efficiently.
Getting Ready for Top-N Queries
Before we dive into the specifics of Top-N queries, it is essential to familiarize ourselves with basic analytical functions. Analytical functions are SQL functions that perform calculations across a group of rows that are related to each other.
Some of the basic analytical functions are:
- SUM – calculates the sum of a column
- AVG – calculates the average of a column
- COUNT – counts the number of rows in a column
- MIN – retrieves the minimum value of a column
- MAX – retrieves the maximum value of a column
These functions are useful in Top-N queries because they allow us to calculate the totals, averages, and other aggregations we need to group and sort the data.
Overview of the Sales Table
In this article, we will use a sample sales table to explain Top-N queries. The Sales table consists of the following columns:
- Order ID – a unique identifier for each order
- Order Date – the date the order was placed
- Customer ID – a unique identifier for each customer
- Product ID – a unique identifier for each product
- Sales – the total sales amount for each order
The table contains several thousand rows, making it an ideal dataset to test Top-N queries.
Definition and Use of Top-N Queries
A Top-N query is a SQL query that retrieves the top or bottom N rows from a table sorted by a particular column. For example, suppose we want to retrieve the top 10 customers based on their total sales.
In that case, we would use a Top-N query that sorts the customers in descending order of their sales and retrieves the top 10 customers. Top-N queries are widely used in BI to identify the highest or lowest values for a particular metric.
They are also used to identify trends or patterns in data, such as the most popular products or the most common customer complaints.
The Benefits of Top-N Queries
Top-N queries offer several benefits for BI users, including:
- Efficient retrieval of information – Top-N queries enable users to retrieve valuable information quickly and efficiently, rather than sifting through tables with numerous rows and irrelevant data.
- Accurate analysis – With Top-N queries, BI users can quickly identify the most important or highest/lowest values in the dataset.
- Improved decision-making – Top-N queries allow users to make informed decisions based on accurate analysis of relevant data, resulting in better business decisions.
- Enhanced reporting – The use of Top-N queries enhances reporting capabilities by providing a clear and concise view of data that is easy to interpret.
The Role of Database/BI Developers
Database/BI developers play a crucial role in enabling users to get results efficiently from Top-N queries.
Some of the key responsibilities of database/BI developers are:
- Designing efficient database schemas – Database developers must design effective database schemas that can be easily queried to retrieve the necessary information.
- Optimizing queries and indexes – Optimizing queries and indexes also helps to avoid performance issues when querying large datasets.
- Implementing analytical functions – BI developers must be proficient in implementing analytical functions to perform calculations across groups of rows that are related. This enables the efficient manipulation of data to make more informed decisions.
- Creating user-friendly interfaces – BI developers must create user-friendly interfaces that enable users to access and interact with their data easily.
A well-designed dashboard or report can provide users with a clear view of their data, allowing them to make informed decisions quickly.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Top-N queries are an essential tool for BI users to retrieve valuable information quickly and efficiently. Understanding the use, benefits, and proper implementation of Top-N queries enables database/BI developers to provide excellent user experiences efficiently.
As databases and volumes of data continue to grow, Top-N queries will remain a valuable and necessary tool for efficient data analysis.
3) Top-N with ROW_NUMBER
One of the classic ways to write a Top-N query is by using ROW_NUMBER. ROW_NUMBER is a built-in function in SQL that can assign consecutive numbers to each row in a dataset based on a particular order.
This function is widely used to implement Top-N queries because it allows developers to specify the exact number of rows they want to limit their output to. To implement a Top-N query with ROW_NUMBER, we first need to specify the ordering criterion.
For example, suppose we want to retrieve the top 10 customers based on their total sales. In that case, we would first sort the customers by their total sales in descending order.
Then, we would use the ROW_NUMBER function to assign a number to each row. Finally, we would select the top 10 rows based on the assigned numbers.
Here’s an example of a Top-N query using ROW_NUMBER:
SELECT *
FROM (
SELECT
customer_id,
SUM(sales) AS total_sales,
ROW_NUMBER() OVER (ORDER BY SUM(sales) DESC) AS row_num
FROM sales
GROUP BY customer_id
) sub
WHERE row_num <= 10;
Advantages of using ROW_NUMBER over ROWNUM for Top-N queries
ROWNUM is another way to implement Top-N queries. However, unlike ROW_NUMBER, ROWNUM is not a built-in function and can be less efficient when dealing with large datasets.
ROWNUM assigns a number to each row based on the order in which the rows are retrieved. This means that ROWNUM can only be used to retrieve a specific number of rows, but it cannot be used to assign a row number based on a specific ordering criterion.
Additionally, ROWNUM is limited in the number of rows it can assign a number to at a single time. ROW_NUMBER, on the other hand, can assign numbers to rows based on any specific ordering criterion and can handle larger datasets more efficiently.
ROW_NUMBER is also more versatile because it can be used with other analytical functions to perform complex calculations on subsets of data.
4) Top-N Distinct
Top-N Distinct queries are used when we want to retrieve the top N rows of a result set while avoiding duplicate values. For example, suppose we want to retrieve the top 10 customers based on their total sales, but we want to exclude any customers with the same name.
We would use a Top-N Distinct query that sorts the customers by their total sales, removes any duplicate names, and retrieves the top 10 customers that remain. To implement Top-N Distinct queries, we can use the DENSE_RANK function.
DENSE_RANK is a built-in function in SQL that can assign consecutive numbers to each row in a dataset based on a particular order, similar to ROW_NUMBER. However, DENSE_RANK differs from ROW_NUMBER in that it can handle ties between rows.
If two or more rows have the same value, DENSE_RANK assigns them the same number. Here’s an example of a Top-N Distinct query using DENSE_RANK:
SELECT *
FROM (
SELECT
customer_name,
SUM(sales) AS total_sales,
DENSE_RANK() OVER (ORDER BY SUM(sales) DESC, customer_name) AS dense_rank
FROM sales
GROUP BY customer_name
HAVING dense_rank <= 10
) sub;
In this example, we sort the customers by their total sales in descending order, then by their name, and assign them a DENSE_RANK based on that ordering. We then use the HAVING clause to retrieve only the top 10 rows, removing any duplicates that may exist based on the name.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Top-N queries are an important tool for BI users to retrieve valuable information quickly and efficiently. ROW_NUMBER and DENSE_RANK are two powerful functions that can be used to implement Top-N and Top-N Distinct queries.
Understanding the differences between these functions and their advantages can help database/BI developers optimize performance and implement efficient solutions for end-users.
5) Top-N Non-Distinct with Ranked Values
In some cases, we may want to retrieve the top N values from a dataset, including duplicates. For example, consider a situation where we want to identify the top 5 highest selling products, even if some products have the same sales value.
To achieve this, we can use a Top-N non-distinct query with ranked values. To implement a Top-N non-distinct query with ranked values, we use the RANK function.
RANK, like ROW_NUMBER and DENSE_RANK, is a built-in function in SQL that assigns a sequential rank to each row in a dataset based on a specific order. However, unlike ROW_NUMBER and DENSE_RANK, RANK can handle ties between rows and assigns them the same rank value.
Here’s an example of a Top-N non-distinct query with ranked values using the RANK function:
SELECT *
FROM (
SELECT
product_id,
SUM(sales) as total_sales,
RANK() OVER (ORDER BY SUM(sales) DESC) AS sales_rank
FROM sales
GROUP BY product_id
) sub
WHERE sales_rank <= 5;
In this example, we sort the products by their total sales in descending order and assign them a rank based on that ordering. We then retrieve the top 5 products based on their assigned rank, including any duplicate products.
6) Oracle 12c Syntax for Top-N Queries
Oracle 12c introduces a new syntax for Top-N queries using the FETCH FIRST clause. The FETCH FIRST clause allows us to specify the number of rows we want to retrieve from a query.
This makes it easier to write Top-N queries, as we no longer need to use subqueries or analytical functions. Here’s an example of a Top-N query using the FETCH FIRST clause in Oracle 12c:
SELECT *
FROM sales
ORDER BY sales DESC
FETCH FIRST 10 ROWS ONLY;
In this example, we sort the sales table by the sales column in descending order and retrieve the first 10 rows using the FETCH FIRST clause. The FETCH FIRST clause can also be combined with other clauses, such as the WHERE and GROUP BY clauses, to create more complex queries.
Here are some examples:
-- Top 5 products with the highest sales in the last month
SELECT *
FROM sales
WHERE order_date >= TRUNC(SYSDATE, 'MONTH')
GROUP BY product_id
ORDER BY SUM(sales) DESC
FETCH FIRST 5 ROWS ONLY;
-- Top 3 customers with the highest average order amount
SELECT customer_id,
AVG(total_sales) AS avg_order_amount
FROM (
SELECT
customer_id,
order_id,
SUM(sales) AS total_sales
FROM sales
GROUP BY customer_id, order_id
) sub
GROUP BY customer_id
ORDER BY AVG(total_sales) DESC
FETCH FIRST 3 ROWS ONLY;
In these examples, we use the FETCH FIRST clause to retrieve a specific number of rows based on our defined criteria.
Conclusion
Top-N queries are a powerful tool for BI users to retrieve relevant information quickly and efficiently. The use of ranked values and the FETCH FIRST clause can simplify the implementation of Top-N and Top-N non-distinct queries, making it easier for database/BI developers to optimize performance and create efficient solutions for end-users.
Understanding the capabilities of different SQL functions and syntax can help developers build more sophisticated and effective BI systems.
Conclusion
In this article, we have explored different methods for creating Top-N queries using SQL analytical functions. We began by providing an overview of Top-N queries and the role of database/BI developers in enabling users to get results efficiently.
We then discussed the use of basic analytical functions and the sales table in the examples. Next, we explored the classic Top-N query using ROW_NUMBER and the advantages of using ROW_NUMBER over ROWNUM for Top-N queries.
We then moved on to Top-N Distinct queries and explained how to implement them using the DENSE_RANK function. We also covered Top-N non-distinct queries with ranked values and the use of the RANK function to produce a sequential rank for each distinct value.
Finally, we discussed Oracle 12c syntax for Top-N queries and provided examples of using the FETCH FIRST clause for different Top-N queries. In summary, there are three methods for creating Top-N queries with analytical functions: ROW_NUMBER for classic Top-N queries, DENSE_RANK for Top-N Distinct queries, and RANK for Top-N non-distinct queries with ranked values.
Each method has its advantages and can be used to customize SQL queries based on specific data requirements. Additionally, an inverse query can be used to find the worst performers in a dataset.
Simply reversing the order of sorting criteria can help identify the lowest values in a dataset, revealing the worst performers. In conclusion, Top-N queries are a valuable tool for BI users to retrieve relevant and valuable information from large datasets.
Their use and optimization are critical in maintaining a productive and efficient BI system. Employing the methods discussed here can help database/BI developers implement optimized Top-N queries for their end-users, resulting in better business decisions and improved business performance.
In summary, Top-N queries are a critical tool for business intelligence users to sift through their data and identify high-performing or poorly-performing entities. This article covered three key methods for creating Top-N queries: ROW_NUMBER for classic Top-N queries, DENSE_RANK for Top-N Distinct queries, and RANK for Top-N non-distinct queries with ranked values.
We also discussed Oracle 12c syntax and inverse queries to reveal worst performers. The importance of database/BI developers in enabling efficient retrieval of information was emphasized.
By applying these methods and understanding the advantages of various analytical functions, developers can optimize performance and create efficient solutions for end-users, resulting in better business decisions and improved business performance.