SELECT TOP clause is used to fetch limited number of rows from a database. This clause is very useful while dealing with large databases.

• Basic Syntax:

  SELECT TOP value column1,column2 FROM table_name;
  value: number of rows to return from top
  column1 , column2: fields in the table
  table_name: name of table
  

• Syntax using Percent

  SELECT TOP value PERCENT column1,column2 FROM table_name;
  value: percentage of number of rows to return from top
  column1 , column2: fields in the table
  table_name: name of table
  

Queries

1. 1. 1. • To fetch first two data set from Student table.

           SELECT TOP 2 * FROM Student; 
           

           Output:

           ROLL_NO	NAME	ADDRESS	PHONE	Age
           1	Ram	Delhi	XXXXXXXXXX	18
           2	RAMESH	GURGAON	XXXXXXXXXX	18

1. 1. • To fetch 50 percent of the total records from Student table.

        SELECT TOP 50 PERCENT * FROM Student; 
        

        Output:

        ROLL_NO	NAME	ADDRESS	PHONE	Age
        1	Ram	Delhi	XXXXXXXXXX	18
        2	RAMESH	GURGAON	XXXXXXXXXX	18
        3	SUJIT	ROHTAK	XXXXXXXXXX	20

NOTE: To get the same functionality on MySQL and Oracle databases there is a bit of difference in the basic syntax;

1. 1. Equivalent Syntaxes are as follows:
      • For MySQL databases:

        SELECT column1,column2 FROM table_name LIMIT value;
        column1 , column2: fields int the table
        table_name: name of table
        value: number of rows to return from top
        

      • For Oracle databases:

        SELECT column1,column2 FROM table_name WHERE ROWNUM <= value;
        column1 , column2: fields int the table
        table_name: name of table
        value: number of rows to return from top