ORDER BY

This lesson uses DDI_SQL_Training dataset version 1.0.0 on SQL Server 2019 or later. A query result has no promised display order until you request one. ORDER BY turns a set of matching rows into a predictable presentation.

Run the example

SELECT CustomerID, FirstName, City
FROM dbo.Customers
ORDER BY City ASC, CustomerID ASC;

Read it step by step

1. ORDER BY City ASC sorts city names alphabetically. ASC is optional because ascending is the default.
2. Several customers share a city. CustomerID ASC sorts those ties, giving each row a fixed position within its city.
3. DESC reverses a sort. For example, ORDER BY ListPrice DESC, ProductID ASC ranks expensive products first and resolves equal prices by ID.

Check the result

Birmingham comes before Bristol alphabetically. Within Birmingham, IDs 3, 9, and 19 rise in order. The sort changes display order only; it does not rearrange the stored table.

Practice

List the three most expensive products. Include ProductID as a tie breaker. Which products appear?

SELECT TOP (3) ProductID, ProductName, ListPrice FROM dbo.Products ORDER BY ListPrice DESC, ProductID ASC;