In SQL, the concept of “SQL SELECT LAST” typically refers to retrieving the most recent or last records from a database table. This is often used when you want to access the latest data entries, such as the most recent transactions, orders, or updates.
To retrieve the last records in SQL, you typically use the ORDER BY
clause in conjunction with DESC
(descending order) and possibly LIMIT
or TOP
to restrict the number of rows returned.
The LAST() function in Structured Query Language shows the last value from the specified column of the table. Syntax of LAST() Function
SELECT LAST (Field_Name) FROM Table_Name ;
SQLExample of SQL SELECT LAST
CREATE TABLE Students (
Student_ID INT PRIMARY KEY,
Student_Name VARCHAR(50),
Student_Course VARCHAR(50),
Student_Age INT,
Student_Marks INT
);
INSERT INTO Students (Student_ID, Student_Name, Student_Course, Student_Age, Student_Marks)
VALUES
(101, 'Anuj', 'B.tech', 20, 88),
(102, 'Raman', 'MCA', 24, 98),
(104, 'Shyam', 'BBA', 19, 92),
(107, 'Vikash', 'B.tech', 20, 78),
(111, 'Monu', 'MBA', 21, 65),
(114, 'Jones', 'B.tech', 18, 93),
(121, 'Parul', 'BCA', 20, 97),
(123, 'Divya', 'B.tech', 21, 89),
(128, 'Hemant', 'MBA', 23, 90),
(130, 'Nidhi', 'BBA', 20, 88),
(132, 'Priya', 'MBA', 22, 99),
(138, 'Mohit', 'MCA', 21, 92);
SQLStudent_ID | Student_Name | Student_Course | Student_Age | Student_Marks |
101 | Anuj | B.tech | 20 | 88 |
102 | Raman | MCA | 24 | 98 |
104 | Shyam | BBA | 19 | 92 |
107 | Vikash | B.tech | 20 | 78 |
111 | Monu | MBA | 21 | 65 |
114 | Jones | B.tech | 18 | 93 |
121 | Parul | BCA | 20 | 97 |
123 | Divya | B.tech | 21 | 89 |
128 | Hemant | MBA | 23 | 90 |
130 | Nidhi | BBA | 20 | 88 |
132 | Priya | MBA | 22 | 99 |
138 | Mohit | MCA | 21 | 92 |
SELECT LAST (Student_Name) AS Last_Student FROM Student_Details;
SQLOutput
Conclusion
In conclusion, while SQL does not have a specific “SELECT LAST” function, you can achieve similar results using techniques such as ordering by a timestamp column in descending order and limiting the result set, or by using subqueries to find the maximum value of a specific column to identify the last record(s) in a table. The exact method may vary depending on the specific SQL database system being used. By understanding these techniques, you can effectively retrieve the most recent or last records from a database table to meet your data querying needs.
Frequently asked questions
SQL SELECT LAST is not a built-in function in SQL. However, it refers to the concept of retrieving the last or most recent records from a database table.
You can retrieve the last record from a table in SQL by ordering the records by a timestamp or date column in descending order and then limiting the result set to one row.
No, SQL does not have a dedicated function like “SELECT LAST”. Instead, you typically use ordering and limiting techniques to achieve the desired result.
Yes, you can use subqueries to find the maximum value of a timestamp or date column and then filter the records based on that value to retrieve the last record(s).
Besides using ordering and limiting or subqueries, you can also consider using window functions like ROW_NUMBER() or ranking functions if your SQL database system supports them.