RANK
WindowAssigns a rank to each row within a partition, with gaps for ties.
Syntax
RANK() OVER (ORDER BY col)
Example
SELECT name, score, RANK() OVER (ORDER BY score DESC) as ranking FROM students;
About SQL RANK
The RANK keyword belongs to the Window category of SQL statements. Assigns a rank to each row within a partition, with gaps 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 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 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.