SQL LIMIT Explained: Syntax and Usage
In SQL, LIMIT is a keyword used to restrict the number of rows returned in a query result set.
The syntax for LIMIT is as follows:
SELECT column1, column2, …
FROM table_name
LIMIT number;
Among them:
- SELECT column1, column2, …: indicates the names of the columns to be queried.
- What table to query data from is indicated by table_name.
- LIMIT number: indicates the number of rows to be returned.
In the LIMIT clause, the number parameter indicates the number of rows to be returned. For example, LIMIT 5 will only return the first 5 rows of the query result set.
LIMIT can also be combined with OFFSET to specify the offset of the starting row to return. For example, LIMIT 5 OFFSET 5 means to return 5 rows starting from the 6th row.
Please be aware that the syntax for LIMIT may vary slightly in different database management systems. In MySQL, the LIMIT statement is effective, but in other systems like Oracle and SQL Server, different syntax is used to achieve similar functionality. Therefore, before using LIMIT, check the documentation for your specific database management system to understand its syntax rules.
