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Using SQL SELECT TOP

Reading time 1 min
Published Aug 9, 2017
Updated Oct 9, 2019

TL;DR – By using SQL SELECT TOP, you can define the amount of data records to bring back. This command is very useful when working with significant amounts of data, but not universally supported.

The syntax for SQL SELECT TOP

In SQL Server / MS Access

Example
SELECT TOP number|percent column_name(s)
FROM name_table
WHERE condition;

In MySQL

Example
SELECT column_name(s)
FROM name_table
WHERE condition
LIMIT number;

In Oracle

Example
SELECT column_name(s)
FROM name_table
WHERE ROWNUM <= number;
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Examples using a demo database

The Customers table

ID Name Contact Address City Postal_Code Country
1 Ben Choplinks Ben Choplink Obeesre Str. 51 Rome 11207 Italy
2 Donald Rich Donald Richario Avda. de la Confgfstitución 4122 Tallin 17021 Estonia
3 Lilly Smilkins Lilly Smilkin Matadsderos 2312 Eguero 14023 Mexico
4 Brandinina Tom Hitchins 110 Hanegover Sq. London WB2 2DP UK
5 Carizmos Christiano Kerrys Berguvsesvägen 9 Luleå S-968 43 Sweden

Picking the first three data records

Example
SELECT TOP 3 * FROM Customers;

Picking the first half of the data records

Example
SELECT TOP 50 PERCENT * FROM Customers;

Picking the first three records that comply with a condition

Example
SELECT TOP 3 * FROM Customers
WHERE Country='Germany';