The TOP keyword allows you to return the first n number of rows from a query based on the number of rows or percentage of rows that you define.
The first rows returned are also impacted by how your query is ordered.
In previous versions of SQL Server, developers used SET ROWCOUNT to limit rows returned or impacted.
In SQL Server 2005, you should use the TOP keyword instead of SET ROWCOUNT, as the TOP will usually perform faster.
The TOP keyword can also now be used with INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE statements
11>
12> CREATE TABLE employee(
13> id INTEGER NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY,
14> first_name VARCHAR(10),
15> last_name VARCHAR(10),
16> salary DECIMAL(10,2),
17> start_Date DATETIME,
18> region VARCHAR(10),
19> city VARCHAR(20)
20> );
21> GO
1> INSERT INTO employee VALUES (1, 'Jason' , 'Martin', 5890,'2005-03-22','North','Vancouver');
2> GO
(1 rows affected)
1> INSERT INTO employee VALUES (2, 'Alison', 'Mathews',4789,'2003-07-21','South','Utown');
2> GO
(1 rows affected)
1> INSERT INTO employee VALUES (3, 'James' , 'Smith', 6678,'2001-12-01','North','Paris');
2> GO
(1 rows affected)
1> INSERT INTO employee VALUES (4, 'Celia' , 'Rice', 5567,'2006-03-03','South','London');
2> GO
(1 rows affected)
1> INSERT INTO employee VALUES (5, 'Robert', 'Black', 4467,'2004-07-02','East','Newton');
2> GO
(1 rows affected)
1> INSERT INTO employee VALUES (6, 'Linda' , 'Green' , 6456,'2002-05-19','East','Calgary');
2> GO
(1 rows affected)
1> INSERT INTO employee VALUES (7, 'David' , 'Larry', 5345,'2008-03-18','West','New York');
2> GO
(1 rows affected)
1> INSERT INTO employee VALUES (8, 'James' , 'Cat', 4234,'2007-07-17','West','Regina');
2> GO
(1 rows affected)
1> INSERT INTO employee VALUES (9, 'Joan' , 'Act', 6123,'2001-04-16','North','Toronto');
2> GO
(1 rows affected)
1>
2> select * from employee;
3> GO
id first_name last_name salary start_Date region city
----------- ---------- ---------- ------------ ----------------------- ---------- --------------------
1 Jason Martin 5890.00 2005-03-22 00:00:00.000 North Vancouver
2 Alison Mathews 4789.00 2003-07-21 00:00:00.000 South Utown
3 James Smith 6678.00 2001-12-01 00:00:00.000 North Paris
4 Celia Rice 5567.00 2006-03-03 00:00:00.000 South London
5 Robert Black 4467.00 2004-07-02 00:00:00.000 East Newton
6 Linda Green 6456.00 2002-05-19 00:00:00.000 East Calgary
7 David Larry 5345.00 2008-03-18 00:00:00.000 West New York
8 James Cat 4234.00 2007-07-17 00:00:00.000 West Regina
9 Joan Act 6123.00 2001-04-16 00:00:00.000 North Toronto
(9 rows affected)
1>
2>
3>
4> SELECT TOP 5 v.First_Name,
5> v.city
6> FROM employee v
7> ORDER BY v.city DESC, v.first_Name
8> GO
First_Name city
---------- --------------------
Jason Vancouver
Alison Utown
Joan Toronto
James Regina
James Paris
(5 rows affected)
1>
2>
3> drop table employee;
4> GO
1>