SQL FIRST() Function

The FIRST() Function

The FIRST() function returns the first value of the selected column.

SELECT FIRST(column_name) FROM table_name;

Note: The FIRST() function is only supported in MS Access.

SELECT TOP 1 column_name FROM table_nameORDER BY column_name ASC;

SELECT TOP 1 CustomerName FROM Customers
ORDER BY CustomerID ASC;

SELECT column_name FROM table_name
ORDER BY column_name ASC
LIMIT 1;

SELECT CustomerName FROM Customers
ORDER BY CustomerID ASC
LIMIT 1;

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

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

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

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

SELECT FIRST(CustomerName) AS FirstCustomer FROM Customers;