Fetching Top Rows in SQL: A Comprehensive Guide

Code: SQL Server / MS Access Syntax:

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

Code: MySQL Syntax:

SELECT column_name(s)
FROM table_name
WHERE condition
LIMIT number;

Code: Oracle Syntax:

SELECT column_name(s)
FROM table_name
WHERE ROWNUM <= number;

Examle SQL Server

Code:

CREATE TABLE Employee(
EmpId INT,
EmpName VARCHAR(25),
EmpAddress VARCHAR(100),
EmpDept VARCHAR(25)
)

INSERT INTO Employee VALUES
(1, 'Rambo', 'Kolkata', 'IT'),
(2, 'Rohit', 'Kolkata', 'IT'),
(3, 'Rohon', 'Kolkata', 'ITIS'),
(4, 'Ronok', 'Kolkata', 'ITIS'),
(5, 'Rubin', 'Kolkata', 'ITIS'),
(6, 'Sorif', 'Kolkata', 'ADMIN'),
(7, 'Soriful', 'Kolkata', 'ADMIN'),
(8, 'Sofik', 'Kolkata', 'ADMIN')
 

Code: Select top 2

You can specify the name of the column.

SELECT TOP 2 *
FROM Employee 

Output:

The above code will produce the following result-

EmpId	EmpName	EmpAddress	EmpDept
1	Rambo	Kolkata	IT
2	Rohit	Kolkata	IT

Code: TOP 50 PERCENT

You can specify the name of the column.

SELECT TOP 50 PERCENT *
FROM Employee 

Output:

The above code will produce the following result-

EmpId	EmpName	EmpAddress	EmpDept
1	Rambo	Kolkata	IT
2	Rohit	Kolkata	IT
3	Rohon	Kolkata	ITIS
4	Ronok	Kolkata	ITIS