SQL FIRST() Function
The FIRST() Function
The FIRST() function returns the first value of the selected column.
SQL FIRST() Syntax
SELECT FIRST(column_name) FROM table_name;
Note: The FIRST() function is only supported in MS Access.
SQL FIRST() Workaround in SQL Server, MySQL and Oracle
SQL Server Syntax
SELECT TOP 1 column_name
FROM table_name
ORDER BY column_name ASC;
ORDER BY column_name ASC;
Example
SELECT TOP 1 CustomerName FROM Customers
ORDER BY CustomerID ASC;
ORDER BY CustomerID ASC;
MySQL Syntax
SELECT column_name FROM table_name
ORDER BY column_name ASC
LIMIT 1;
ORDER BY column_name ASC
LIMIT 1;
Example
SELECT CustomerName FROM Customers
ORDER BY CustomerID ASC
LIMIT 1;
ORDER BY CustomerID ASC
LIMIT 1;
Oracle Syntax
SELECT column_name FROM table_name
WHERE ROWNUM <=1
ORDER BY column_name ASC;
WHERE ROWNUM <=1
ORDER BY column_name ASC;
Example
SELECT CustomerName FROM Customers
WHERE ROWNUM <=1
ORDER BY CustomerID ASC;
WHERE ROWNUM <=1
ORDER BY CustomerID ASC;
Demo Database
In this tutorial we will use the well-known Northwind sample database.
Below is a selection from the "Customers" table:
| 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 |
SQL FIRST() Example
The following SQL statement selects the first value of the "CustomerName" column from the "Customers" table:
