What is a top n query in Oracle 12c?

Top-N queries don't have a special command or keyword. They utilize an ordered inline view, select results from that view, and then limit the number of rows using ROWNUM. Note for Oracle 12c users: Oracle 12c introduced a new clause, FETCH FIRST. This allows us to write Top-N queries by adding the FETCH FIRST clause at the end of a basic query.

How do I select the top 100 rows in Oracle?

Efficiently selecting the top rows in Oracle is a common requirement, and this guide explores two methods: using the ROWNUM pseudo-column and the FETCH FIRST syntax. In Oracle, the ROWNUM pseudo-column allows limiting the result set. To select the top 100 rows based on a specific condition, use the following query:

Does Oracle 12c support top-n queries?

If you are using Oracle 12c onward, Top-N queries just got a whole lot easier with the introduction of the Row Limiting Clause. If backwards compatibility is not your concern, switch to using this new clause. There is a quick example below, but the separate article explains all the ways of using this new syntax.