DENSE_RANK
WindowLike RANK but without gaps in the ranking sequence for ties.
Syntax
DENSE_RANK() OVER (ORDER BY col)
Example
SELECT name, salary, DENSE_RANK() OVER (ORDER BY salary DESC) as salary_rank FROM employees;
About SQL DENSE_RANK
The DENSE_RANK keyword belongs to the Window category of SQL statements. Like RANK but without gaps in the ranking sequence for ties. Understanding this command is essential for any developer working with relational databases like PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, or SQL Server.
SQL (Structured Query Language) is the standard language for managing and querying relational databases. The DENSE_RANK statement is supported across all major database systems, though specific syntax may vary slightly between PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, Oracle, SQL Server, and SQLite. Always consult your database's documentation for vendor-specific features and limitations.
Best practices for using DENSE_RANK: always test queries on a development database before running them in production, use parameterized queries to prevent SQL injection, and leverage EXPLAIN to understand query performance. For complex queries, consider using CTEs (Common Table Expressions) to improve readability and maintainability.