difference between row_number and top in sql server

• kuppurajm

  SSCommitted

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  January 21, 2011 at 9:51 pm

  #230711

  Hi,

  what is the difference between row_number and top functions in sql server

• Gail Shaw

  SSC Guru

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  January 22, 2011 at 1:13 am

  #1276877

  Easier question would be what are the similarities, because the answer to that would be "None"

  Row number assigns sequential numbers to a column in a resultset, based on what is specified for the partition and ordering. It's one of a class of windowing functions (the others being Rank, DenseRank and NTile)

  Top limits the maximum number of rows returned by a query.

  Gail Shaw
  Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
  SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

  We walk in the dark places no others will enter
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• VSSGeorge

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  January 23, 2011 at 10:50 pm

  #1277049

  Hi

  If you want know the T-sql difference , you can refer this link

  http://thehobt.blogspot.com/2009/02/rownumber-rank-and-denserank.html