MySQL SQL
MySQL LIMIT
The MySQL LIMIT Clause
The number of records to be returned is specified using the LIMIT clause.
For huge tables with thousands of records, the LIMIT clause is helpful. Performance may suffer if a lot of records are returned.
LIMIT Syntax
SELECT column_name(s)
FROM table_name
WHERE condition
LIMIT number;
Demo Database
A sample from the “Customers” table in the Northwind sample database is shown below:
| CustomerID | CustomerName | ContactName | Address | City | PostalCode | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alfreds Futterkiste | Maria Anders | Obere Str. 57 | Berlin | 12209 | Germany |
| 2 | Ana Trujillo Emparedados y helados | Ana Trujillo | Avda. de la Constitución 2222 | México D.F. | 05021 | Mexico |
| 3 | Antonio Moreno Taquería | Antonio Moreno | Mataderos 2312 | México D.F. | 05023 | Mexico |
| 4 | Around the Horn | Thomas Hardy | 120 Hanover Sq. | London | WA1 1DP | UK |
| 5 | Berglunds snabbköp | Christina Berglund | Berguvsvägen 8 | Luleå | S-958 22 | Sweden |
MySQL LIMIT Examples
The following SQL statement selects the first three records from the “Customers” table:
Example
SELECT * FROM Customers
LIMIT 3;
What happens if we wish to pick records 4 through 6 (inclusive)?
MySQL offers an OFFSET-based solution for this.
“Return only 3 records, start on record 4 (OFFSET 3)” is what the SQL query below states.
Example
SELECT * FROM Customers
LIMIT 3 OFFSET 3;
ADD a WHERE CLAUSE
With “Germany” as the nation, the first three records in the “Customers” table are chosen via the SQL statement that follows:
Example
SELECT * FROM Customers
WHERE Country='Germany'
LIMIT 3;
