SQL SELECT TOP

SQL SELECT TOP n Statement

A SELECT TOP n statement returns the first n records.

SELECT TOP is useful when working with large datasets.

Other databases use keywords like LIMIT, OFFSET, and ROWNUM.

Problem: List the top 5 largest orders, sorted by amount.

SELECT TOP 5 *
  FROM [Order]
 ORDER BY TotalAmount DESC

SELECT TOP 5 *
  FROM [Order]
 ORDER BY TotalAmount DESC

TOP syntax.

SELECT TOP n column-names
  FROM table-name

Problem: List the top 10 most expensive products sorted by price.

SELECT TOP 10 Id, ProductName, UnitPrice, Package
  FROM Product
 ORDER BY UnitPrice DESC

SELECT TOP 10 Id, ProductName, UnitPrice, Package
  FROM Product
 ORDER BY UnitPrice DESC

Result: 10 records.

Id	ProductName	UnitPrice	Package
38	Côte de Blaye	263.50	12 - 75 cl bottles
29	Thüringer Rostbratwurst	123.79	50 bags x 30 sausgs.
9	Mishi Kobe Niku	97.00	18 - 500 g pkgs.
20	Sir Rodney's Marmalade	81.00	30 gift boxes
18	Carnarvon Tigers	62.50	16 kg pkg.
59	Raclette Courdavault	55.00	5 kg pkg.
51	Manjimup Dried Apples	53.00	50 - 300 g pkgs.
62	Tarte au sucre	49.30	48 pies
43	Ipoh Coffee	46.00	16 - 500 g tins
28	Rössle Sauerkraut	45.60	25 - 825 g cans