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Table of contents
1.
Introduction
2.
Understanding SQL LIMIT Clause
2.1.
What is LIMIT?
2.2.
Why Use LIMIT?
2.3.
The Syntax of LIMIT
3.
Implementing LIMIT in Real Scenarios
3.1.
How to Use Limit Along With Offset?
4.
Advantages Of the LIMIT Clause
5.
Frequently Asked Questions
5.1.
What is limit in SQL query?
5.2.
What is the limit control in SQL?
5.3.
Why limit 1 in SQL?
6.
Conclusion
Last Updated: Mar 27, 2024
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LIMIT in SQL

Author Gunjan Batra
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Introduction

When working with SQL databases, it's often necessary to limit the number of rows returned by a query, whether for efficiency, testing, or pagination. This is where the SQL LIMIT clause comes into play.

limit in sql

In this article, we'll dig into the LIMIT clause, its importance, and how you can utilize it in your database operations.

Understanding SQL LIMIT Clause

What is LIMIT?

In Sql, LIMIT is a clause that lets you constrain the number of rows returned by a SELECT statement. It can be incredibly handy when dealing with large datasets.

Why Use LIMIT?

The LIMIT clause is useful in scenarios where:

Resource Efficiency: It allows you to minimize system load and improve performance.

Data Sampling: It's beneficial for obtaining a sample of your data for exploratory analysis.

Pagination: It's essential in implementing pagination in applications.

The Syntax of LIMIT

The LIMIT clause has a straightforward syntax:

SELECT column_name(s) FROM table_name
LIMIT number;

You replace number with the number of rows you want to return. 

Implementing LIMIT in Real Scenarios

Let's delve into some examples to better understand the LIMIT clause.

Example 1: Basic Usage

Let’s see first our employee table:

Select * from employee;
Employee table

you have a table called 'Employees', and you want to select only the first 5 rows. You can use the LIMIT clause like so:

SELECT * FROM Employees
LIMIT 5;
output

Example 2: LIMIT with OFFSET

The LIMIT clause can also be used with an OFFSET. The OFFSET keyword skips a specified number of rows before beginning to return the rows. The syntax is:

SELECT column_name(s) FROM table_name
LIMIT number OFFSET number;

For instance, to select all employees but skip the first three:

SELECT * FROM Employees
LIMIT 5 OFFSET 3;
output

How to Use Limit Along With Offset?

In SQL, the LIMIT clause is often paired with OFFSET to retrieve a specific subset of rows from a result set. The LIMIT keyword specifies the maximum number of rows to return, while OFFSET sets the starting point within the result set.

Example:

SELECT column1, column2
FROM table
LIMIT 10 OFFSET 20;

 

This query fetches 10 rows starting from the 21st row in the result set. LIMIT sets the maximum number of rows to be returned and OFFSET defines the starting point within the result set.

Advantages Of the LIMIT Clause

The advantages of the LIMIT Clause are:

  • It reduces the amount of data transferred, improving query performance.
  • It limits resource consumption by fetching only the necessary rows.
  • It enables easy implementation of pagination in web applications.
  • Users can navigate through data in manageable chunks.
  • It facilitates testing by retrieving a small sample of data for analysis.
  • It is useful for identifying issues without processing large datasets.
  • It makes queries more readable and concise.
  • It focuses on relevant data, enhancing code clarity.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is limit in SQL query?

The LIMIT clause in SQL restricts the number of rows returned in a query result. It's used to control the quantity of records retrieved from a table.

What is the limit control in SQL?

The "limit control" in SQL typically refers to the LIMIT clause, allowing control over the number of rows retrieved in a query result.

Why limit 1 in SQL?

When you use LIMIT 1 in a query, you are instructing the database to return only the first row that matches the conditions specified in the query. This can be beneficial in scenarios where you are interested in a single result or when you want to optimize the query's performance by fetching only the minimum amount of data necessary.

Conclusion

The SQL LIMIT clause is an essential tool for efficient data handling. It not only saves system resources but also streamlines data management tasks such as testing and pagination. It's just another demonstration of SQL's power and flexibility, enabling you to handle vast datasets with simplicity and precision. Remember, mastering the use of these clauses and commands is what sets apart a good database manager from a great one.

If you want to learn about SQL, you can read the below-mentioned articles:

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