Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced developer, using SQL Server SELECT TOP clause is a crucial skill when it comes to database management. In this article, we’ll explore the syntax, evaluation, and examples of SELECT TOP clause, and learn how to limit rows with this powerful feature.
Syntax of SELECT TOP Clause
The SELECT TOP clause enables us to return a specific number of rows from a query result. The syntax of SELECT TOP clause is as follows:
SELECT TOP (expression) [PERCENT] [WITH TIES]
FROM table_name
ORDER BY column_name [DESC/ASC]In the syntax above, the SELECT statement retrieves specific data from a table or set of tables, while the TOP clause limits the number of rows returned by the query result.
Evaluation and Use of PERCENT and WITH TIES
We can use the PERCENT keyword in conjunction with the TOP keyword to retrieve a certain percentage of rows from a query result. For instance,
SELECT TOP 50 PERCENT will return the first 50 percent of rows from the query result.
The WITH TIES keyword is used to return rows that have the same values as the last row fetched. This is useful when we want to obtain all of the rows that tie for the last spot in the result set.
Example Queries using SELECT TOP
Let’s look at some example queries that use the SELECT TOP clause.
Example 1: Retrieve the first five rows from the Employees table in the Northwind database and order them alphabetically by the last name of employees:
SELECT TOP 5 LastName, FirstName
FROM Employees
ORDER BY LastName ASCExample 2: Retrieve the top 10 percent of orders from the Orders table in the Northwind database and order them by the order ID in descending order:
SELECT TOP 10 PERCENT OrderID, CustomerID
FROM Orders
ORDER BY OrderID DESCExample 3: Retrieve all the orders that have the same order date as the last order in the Orders table:
SELECT TOP 1 WITH TIES *
FROM Orders
ORDER BY OrderDate DESCLimiting Rows with SELECT TOP
We can limit the number of rows returned by a query using SELECT TOP clause. This can be done in different ways:
Returning a Set Number of Rows with Constant Value
We can use the SELECT TOP clause to return a set number of rows. For instance, if we want to obtain only the first ten rows, we can use the following query:
SELECT TOP 10 *
FROM table_nameReturning a Percentage of Rows with PERCENT
If we want to return a specific percentage of rows from a query result, we can use SELECT TOP clause with PERCENT keyword. For instance, if we want to obtain the first 50 percent of rows, we can use the following query:
SELECT TOP 50 PERCENT *
FROM table_nameIncluding Rows that Match Last Row with WITH TIES
We can use the WITH TIES keyword in conjunction with the SELECT TOP clause to retrieve all the rows that match the last row fetched. This is useful when we want to obtain all of the rows that tie for the last spot in the result set.
Final Thoughts
SELECT TOP clause is an essential component of a query language when working with SQL Server. By using the syntax, evaluation, and examples of SELECT TOP clause presented in this article, we hope you have learned how to limit rows with this powerful feature.
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced developer, mastering SELECT TOP clause will enhance your ability to manage databases effectively. When it comes to managing databases, the SELECT TOP clause is a powerful tool that can be used to retrieve a specific number or percentage of rows from a table.
In this article, we’ll explore how to use SELECT TOP with the Production.Products table, a sample database that is commonly used to demonstrate SQL Server queries. We’ll also look at examples of SELECT TOP queries that use constant value, PERCENT, and WITH TIES.
Sample Database and Table for Demonstration
To explore the functionality of the SELECT TOP clause, we’ll be using the Production.Products table from the AdventureWorks sample database. AdventureWorks is a well-known sample database that comes bundled with SQL Server and is often used to practice queries and test database management concepts.
The Products table is a popular table within the AdventureWorks database that contains information on products sold by the AdventureWorks company.
Example Query using Constant Value
Our first example query using the Products table will retrieve a fixed number of rows using a constant value. Suppose we want to retrieve the top three records in the Products table with the highest standard cost values.
We can use the following query:
SELECT TOP 3
ProductID,
Name,
StandardCost
FROM Production.Products
ORDER BY StandardCost DESC In this query, we’re selecting the top three rows from the Products table and retrieving the product ID, name, and standard cost columns. Using the ORDER BY clause, we’ve sorted the rows by standard cost in descending order.
When executed, the query will return the top three highest standard cost values from the table.
Example Query using PERCENT
In some cases, we don’t want to retrieve a fixed number of rows from the table, but rather a percentage of the total rows. Suppose we want to retrieve the top 50% of the products table based on the list price column.
We can use the following query:
SELECT TOP 50 PERCENT
ProductID,
Name,
ListPrice
FROM Production.Products
ORDER BY ListPrice DESC In this query, we’re selecting the top 50% of the rows from the Products table and retrieving the product ID, name, and list price columns. Using the ORDER BY clause, we’ve sorted the rows by list price in descending order.
When executed, the query will return the top 50% of rows based on the list price column.
Example Query Using WITH TIES
The WITH TIES keyword is used to return rows that have the same values as the last row fetched. This is useful when we want to retrieve all the rows that tie for the last spot in the result set.
Suppose we want to retrieve all the products that have the same standard cost as the product with the fifth-highest standard cost. We can use the following query:
SELECT TOP 5 WITH TIES
ProductID,
Name,
StandardCost
FROM Production.Products
ORDER BY StandardCost DESC In this query, we’re selecting the top five rows from the Products table using the WITH TIES keyword, which we’ve specified in the TOP clause. We’re retrieving the product ID, name, and standard cost columns.
Using the ORDER BY clause, we’ve sorted the rows by standard cost in descending order. When executed, the query will return all the products that have the same standard cost as the product with the fifth-highest standard cost.
Conclusion
In this article, we’ve explored how to use the SELECT TOP clause with the Production.Products table, a sample database that is commonly used to demonstrate SQL Server queries. We’ve looked at examples of SELECT TOP queries that use constant value, PERCENT, and WITH TIES.
By using SELECT TOP, we can limit the number of rows returned by a query and retrieve only the data we need. Whether we’re retrieving a fixed number of rows, a percentage of rows, or rows that tie for the last spot in the result set, SELECT TOP is a versatile tool for managing databases effectively.
In this article, we discussed how to use the SELECT TOP clause to limit the number of rows returned by a query in SQL Server. We explored the syntax of the SELECT TOP clause, its evaluation, and examples of queries using constant value, PERCENT, and WITH TIES.
Using the Production.Products table, a sample database in SQL Server, we demonstrated how to apply these concepts to retrieve specific data from a table. By learning how to use SELECT TOP, you can efficiently manage databases and retrieve relevant information quickly and accurately.
Incorporating the SELECT TOP clause into your SQL Server queries is an essential skill for any developer or database administrator.