SQL SELECT FIRST

Last Updated : 29 Nov, 2024

The SELECT FIRST clause is used in some SQL databases (primarily MS Access) to retrieve the first record from a table based on the order in which data is stored or queried. It is commonly used when you need to access just one entry, such as the first row based on the natural order or after sorting by a specific column.

In this article, we will explore the SELECT FIRST clause, its syntax, practical examples, and alternatives for different SQL platforms.

SELECT FIRST in SQL

In SQL, the SELECT FIRST clause is used to fetch the first row or record from a table or result set. This operation can be useful when you want to retrieve a single, specific entry, such as the first record of a list, or when you need to implement certain functionalities in applications like employee management systems, inventory systems, or billing systems.

Note: The SELECT FIRST clause is not universally supported across all SQL platforms. Some variations of the FIRST clause in other databases are LIMIT, TOP, or FETCH FIRST.

Syntax:

The syntax to use the SELECT FIRST clause in SQL is:

SELECT FIRST (columnName) FROM tableName;

Example of SQL SELECT FIRST

Let's look at an example of the SELECT FIRST query in SQL. This query can only be used in MS Access.

Example: Retrieve the First Record from a Table

In this example, we will select the first name for the table "stationary".

Name	Price	Quantity
Pen	1.5	100
Pencil	1.0	150
Notebook	3.0	200

SELECT FIRST (Name) AS First_name FROM Stationary;

Example: Using SELECT FIRST with ORDER BY

We can use the SELECT FIRST clause in conjunction with the ORDER BY clause to sort the records before fetching the first record.

SELECT FIRST(Name) AS First_name 
FROM Stationary 
ORDER BY Price ASC;

How to Use SQL SELECT FIRST Clause

Follow the given steps to use the SELECT FIRST clause in SQL.

So we will start by creating a database to perform the operations.

Step 1: Create a database.

CREATE DATABASE GFG

Step 2: Use this database

USE GFG

Step 3: Create a table

/****** (1,1) indicates that increment 1 every time insert is performed ******/  CREATE TABLE first                    (ID INT PRIMARY KEY IDENTITY (1,1),                   Name VARCHAR (20) NOT NULL,                   Age INT NOT NULL,                   Dept VARCHAR (20) NOT NULL)

Step 4: Check the created table schema

Step 4: Insert the values in Table

/****** Insertion queries ******/  INSERT INTO [dbo].[first]            ([Name]            ,[Age]            ,[Dept])      VALUES            ('Devesh', 20, 'CSE') GO  INSERT INTO [dbo].[first]            ([Name]            ,[Age]            ,[Dept])      VALUES            ('Aditya', 19, 'BT') GO  INSERT INTO [dbo].[first]            ([Name]            ,[Age]            ,[Dept])      VALUES            ('Megha', 20, 'CSE') GO

Step 5: Use first() function in table( first() is used in MS ACCESS ).

SELECT TOP 1 Name FROM first

Important Points About SQL SELECT FIRST

The SELECT FIRST command in SQL is used to retrieve only the top row from a table.
SELECT FIRST can be beneficial for various purposes like login-related functions on websites or implementing billing systems.
The SELECT FIRST clause is not universally supported across all SQL systems. It is primarily used in MS Access.
It can used with other clauses like ORDER BY.

Conclusion

The SELECT FIRST clause is a useful SQL query for retrieving the first record from a table, but it is only supported in MS Access. For other database management systems like SQL Server, MySQL, PostgreSQL, and Oracle, We can use alternatives such as SELECT TOP 1, LIMIT 1, or FETCH FIRST.

By understanding the differences between these clauses and their support across different databases, you can effectively retrieve specific records from your database, optimize performance, and improve the manageability of large datasets.

SQL - SELECT LAST

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Article Tags :

SQL SELECT FIRST

SELECT FIRST in SQL

Example of SQL SELECT FIRST

Example: Retrieve the First Record from a Table

Example: Using SELECT FIRST with ORDER BY

How to Use SQL SELECT FIRST Clause

Important Points About SQL SELECT FIRST

Conclusion

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