As a result, it is best practice to utilize the TOP clause in conjunction with an ORDER BY to produce a specific sorted result. The WITH TIES keyword enables to include the rows into the result set that matches with the last
row. We need to take into account one point about the WITH TIES, usage of this expression in the queries may cause
more rows to be returned than we specify in the TOP expression.

There are two ways to determine the number of rows returned by the TOP clause. We can specify either the number of rows or the percentage of the result set to
return. ROW_NUMBER function helps to give temporary numbers to the result set of the query and it can be also used instead
of the TOP clauses.

SQL TOP Explained [Practical Examples]

Despite
that, TOP clauses get involved in the query plans of the queries. If we want to delete the first row of the table according to a certain order, we can use CTE’s to perform this type of requirement. Through the
following query, we can delete a row that has the biggest ProductID. As has been pointed out in the above image, the query has returned an arithmetic overflow error.

Top SQL

Note − By default, the ORDER BY clause sorts the data in ascending order. So, if we need to sort the data in descending order, we must use the DESC keyword. From the above-mentioned parameters, TOP NUMBER OR PERCENT, Column_names and FROM tables are compulsory. We can also use other SQL keywords, such as JOIN, having, etc. in the given syntax. Enter your query below, and we’ll provide instant results tailored to your needs.

SQL TOP WITH TIES

This can lead to unexpected order of the results, which I’ve mentioned earlier. Another is attempting to use TOP in a subquery without an alias, which can result in errors or misunderstandings about which part of the query the TOP is meant to apply to. Incorporating SQL TOP into your queries, when done correctly, can significantly enhance both the performance and accuracy of your data retrieval efforts.

Top SQL

You can optionally use the PERCENT keyword after the fixed value in a TOP clause, if you just want to retrieve the percentage of rows instead of fixed number of rows. Fractional values are rounded up to the next integer value (e.g. 1.5 rounded to 2). The following query deletes a random row from the
ProductListColors table. Variables are database objects which are used to store data during the execution of the query. In the following
query, we assign a value to the variable and the query will return the first rows that equal the variable assigned
value.

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In this article, I’ll share insights and tips on how to wield SQL TOP like a pro. Add the ORDER BY keyword when you want to sort the result, and return the first 3 records of the sorted result. The TOP clause can be used with the DELETE statement to delete a specific number of rows that meet the given criteria. Where, value is the number/ percentage of number of rows to return from the top. The following statement returns top 30 percent of the highest-paid employees. The following statement returns top three highest-paid employees from the employees table.

Top SQL

This SQL SELECT TOP example would select the first 10% of the records from the full result set. So in this example, the SELECT statement would return the top 10% of records from the contacts table where the last_name is ‘Anderson’. The other 90% of the result set would not be returned by the SELECT statement.

SQL SELECT TOP statement vs SET ROWCOUNT option

In the event of a tie, additional records beyond the last record of that tie,
as specified in the ORDER BY clause, will be included in the result set. In the event of a tie, the result set will include additional records beyond
the last record of that tie, as specified in the ORDER BY clause. We’ve seen how the ORDER BY clause is used to sort records before limiting
what’s returned with the TOP clause. Now, we’ll look at using the GROUP
BY and HAVING clauses to group and filter the records returned. In SQL Server, this is the standard syntax, but it’s essential to be aware of variations across different database systems. For instance, in MySQL and PostgreSQL, the LIMIT clause and the LIMIT and FETCH clauses are used respectively, instead of TOP.

Top SQL

As we can see, the query has returned more than one product whose costs are the same as the first one. To return only the highest 50 percent of pretax amounts is achieved by adding
a TOP 50 PERCENT to the SELECT statement. The following examples were run in SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) 19.2 against
a copy of the

Wide World Importers sample database on a Microsoft SQL Server 2022 server. Understanding the nuances and applying these practices in real-world scenarios elevates the precision and performance of data retrieval in SQL. Practicing with these variations and avoiding common pitfalls is essential in mastering the SQL TOP clause. Again, note how the ORDER BY clause ensures that we’re getting the latest products, not just any random selection.

Each database has its nuances, so it’s important to adapt the syntax accordingly. While these examples might seem straightforward, common basic database queries mistakes can trip you up. For instance, omitting the ORDER BY clause is a frequent error that leads to unpredictable results.

When we use a TOP clause with an update statement, the update runs for the undefined rows because we could not add
ORDER BY to this type of update statement. Diving deeper into the usefulness of the SQL TOP clause, I’ve found its benefits in database management to be substantial. Primarily, it enhances performance by limiting the amount of data fetched from the database. This is crucial for large databases where retrieving all records would be time-consuming and resource-intensive. The ability to pinpoint exactly the number of top records needed not only saves time but also optimizes the application’s response time.

Uses of TOP Clause

It can also be useful if you’re developing queries where you’re
only interested in the query’s logic as you’re developing them instead
of returning all the data. TOP is usually used with the ORDER BY clause, as the
order of the data is not guaranteed unless specified. TOP and ORDER BY can be used
together to return the highest or lowest set of data, i.e., top x or top x percent
of best or worst selling items with the ASC or DESC parameter. Here, `(number|percent)` specifies the exact number of records or the percentage of records you wish to pull from the database.

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