FIRST() Function

http://www.w3schools.com/sql/sql_func_first.asp

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.

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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;

Example

SELECT TOP 1 CustomerName FROM Customers
ORDER BY CustomerID ASC;

MySQL Syntax

SELECT column_name FROM table_name
ORDER BY column_name ASC
LIMIT 1;

Example

SELECT CustomerName FROM Customers
ORDER BY CustomerID ASC
LIMIT 1;

Oracle Syntax

SELECT column_name FROM table_name
WHERE ROWNUM <=1
ORDER BY column_name ASC;

Example

SELECT CustomerName FROM Customers
WHERE ROWNUM <=1
ORDER BY CustomerID ASC;

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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

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SQL FIRST() Example

The following SQL statement selects the first value of the "CustomerName" column from the "Customers" table:

Example

SELECT FIRST(CustomerName) AS FirstCustomer FROM Customers;

Try it yourself »