TOP vs LIMIT across databases in SQL - Quick Revision & Key Differences

Recall & Review

beginner

What does the TOP keyword do in SQL?

TOP limits the number of rows returned by a query, commonly used in SQL Server and MS Access.

beginner

What is the purpose of the LIMIT clause in SQL?

LIMIT restricts the number of rows returned by a query, commonly used in MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQLite.

beginner

How do you write a query to get the first 5 rows in SQL Server?

Use: SELECT TOP 5 * FROM table_name;

beginner

How do you write a query to get the first 5 rows in MySQL?

Use: SELECT * FROM table_name LIMIT 5;

intermediate

Can TOP and LIMIT be used interchangeably in all SQL databases?

No. TOP is mainly for SQL Server and MS Access, while LIMIT is for MySQL, PostgreSQL, and SQLite. They are not interchangeable across all databases.

Which SQL keyword is used to limit rows in MySQL?

A ROWNUM

B TOP

C LIMIT

D FETCH

MySQL uses LIMIT to restrict the number of rows returned.

How do you get the first 10 rows in SQL Server?

A SELECT TOP 10 * FROM table;

B SELECT * FROM table WHERE ROWNUM <= 10;

C SELECT * FROM table FETCH FIRST 10 ROWS;

D SELECT * FROM table LIMIT 10;

SQL Server uses TOP to limit rows, so SELECT TOP 10 * FROM table; is correct.

Which database commonly uses the LIMIT clause?

A MySQL

B SQL Server

C Oracle

D MS Access

MySQL commonly uses LIMIT to restrict rows.

Is the following query valid in PostgreSQL? SELECT TOP 5 * FROM users;

A Only if LIMIT is also used

B Yes

C Only with a special extension

D No

PostgreSQL does not support TOP; it uses LIMIT instead.

Which keyword is NOT used to limit rows in standard SQL?

A TOP

B SELECT

C LIMIT

D FETCH

SELECT is used to retrieve data, not to limit rows.

Explain the difference between TOP and LIMIT in SQL and name which databases commonly use each.

Think about which keyword you use in SQL Server vs MySQL.

Write example queries to get the first 3 rows from a table named 'employees' using both TOP and LIMIT.

Remember TOP goes after SELECT, LIMIT goes at the end.