How to read the last row with SQL Server

Question

What is the most efficient way to read the last row with SQL Server?

The table is indexed on a unique key -- the \"bottom\" key values represent the last row.

Answer 1

In order to retrieve the last row of a table for MS SQL database 2005, You can use the following query:

select top 1 column_name from table_name order by column_name desc; 

Note: To get the first row of the table for MS SQL database 2005, You can use the following query:

select top 1 column_name from table_name; 

Answer 2

SELECT * from Employees where [Employee ID] = ALL (SELECT MAX([Employee ID]) from Employees)

Answer 3

I am pretty sure that it is:

SELECT last(column_name) FROM table

Becaause I use something similar:

SELECT last(id) FROM Status

Answer 4

If you don't have any ordered column, you can use the physical id of each lines:

SELECT top 1 sys.fn_PhysLocFormatter(%%physloc%%) AS [File:Page:Slot], 
              T.*
FROM MyTable As T
order by sys.fn_PhysLocFormatter(%%physloc%%) DESC

Answer 5

You can use last_value: SELECT LAST_VALUE(column) OVER (PARTITION BY column ORDER BY column)...

I test it at one of my databases and it worked as expected.

You can also check de documentation here: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh231517.aspx

Answer 6

If you're using MS SQL, you can try:

SELECT TOP 1 * FROM table_Name ORDER BY unique_column DESC