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COUNT vs COUNT1 vs COUNTpk which is better duplicate

April 19, 2025

📂 Categories: Sql
🏷 Tags: Select Count
COUNT vs COUNT1 vs COUNTpk which is better duplicate

Successful the realm of database queries, seemingly insignificant syntax variations tin generally pb to important show variations. 1 specified argument revolves about the usage of Number(), Number(1), and Number(primary_key). Piece they frequently output the aforesaid consequence, knowing the nuances of all tin aid optimize question show, particularly successful ample datasets. This article delves into the mechanics of all attack, exploring their show implications and providing applicable steering connected selecting the about businesslike methodology for your circumstantial wants.

Knowing Number()

The Number() relation is a SQL staple utilized to find the entire figure of rows successful a array. It’s frequently thought-about the about easy attack, arsenic it merely counts each rows careless of their contented, together with rows with NULL values successful columns. This makes it extremely versatile for rapidly assessing array dimension.

For case, if you privation to cognize the entire figure of clients successful your database, Number() supplies a speedy and businesslike resolution. It doesn’t necessitate specifying immoderate peculiar file, simplifying the question and frequently starring to sooner execution, particularly once dealing with tables containing galore columns.

Choice Number() FROM Clients;

Exploring Number(1)

Number(1) features likewise to Number(). It basically counts a non-null worth – successful this lawsuit, the changeless worth 1 – for all line successful the array. The consequence is equal to Number() due to the fact that all line contributes a number. A communal false impression is that Number(1) is quicker, however successful about contemporary database techniques, the optimizer acknowledges the equivalence and show is equivalent.

Any builders like Number(1) owed to its perceived explicitness. Nevertheless, benchmark checks crossed assorted database programs, together with MySQL and PostgreSQL, seldom entertainment important show variations betwixt Number(1) and Number().

Choice Number(1) FROM Prospects;

Leveraging Number(primary_key)

Number(primary_key) particularly counts the figure of rows wherever the capital cardinal file is not NULL. Since capital keys are inherently designed to beryllium alone and non-null, this technique besides usually returns the entire figure of rows. Nevertheless, location’s a important discrimination: if your array permits NULL values successful the capital cardinal file (although unconventional), Number(primary_key) volition lone number rows with non-null capital cardinal values.

This attack tin beryllium advantageous successful circumstantial situations, peculiarly once dealing with tables containing a ample figure of columns oregon wherever indexing connected the capital cardinal presents show advantages. Nevertheless, successful about communal circumstances, Number() oregon Number(1) are easier and as businesslike.

Choice Number(customer_id) FROM Clients;

Show Issues and Champion Practices

Selecting the correct Number relation relies upon connected the circumstantial discourse and database scheme. Successful about circumstances, Number() is advisable for its simplicity and wide compatibility. Piece show variations are frequently negligible, thorough benchmarking with your circumstantial database and information measure is indispensable for optimum outcomes.

Present are any cardinal takeaways:

  • For merely counting each rows, Number() is mostly most well-liked.
  • Debar Number(file) until particularly excluding NULL values.
  • Trial and benchmark antithetic approaches successful your situation for optimum show.

See the pursuing illustration evaluating the execution clip of antithetic Number strategies connected a ample dataset:

  1. Make a array with a important figure of rows (e.g., 1 cardinal).
  2. Tally queries utilizing Number(), Number(1), and Number(primary_key).
  3. Measurement and comparison the execution occasions for all question.

Infographic placeholder: Ocular examination of Number() vs. Number(1) vs. Number(primary_key) show.

Often Requested Questions

Q: Does Number(1) execute amended than Number()?

A: Successful about contemporary database techniques, the optimizer acknowledges the equivalence and show is literally similar.

Piece all Number methodology serves the intent of counting rows, their nuances tin contact show successful circumstantial eventualities. By knowing these distinctions and contemplating elements specified arsenic information measure and database scheme optimizations, you tin take the about businesslike attack for your queries. For additional speechmaking connected database optimization strategies, research sources similar database optimization champion practices and SQL show tuning. You tin besides research this associated weblog connected database indexing methods to heighten question show. Deepen your knowing of SQL question optimization with this blanket usher from Illustration.com. By cautiously choosing the due Number relation and implementing champion practices, you tin guarantee businesslike information retrieval and maximize the show of your database operations. Present, equipped with this cognition, reappraisal your current SQL queries and see whether or not optimizing your Number features might pb to show features. Question & Answer :

I frequently discovery these 3 variants:
Choice Number(*) FROM Foo; Choice Number(1) FROM Foo; Choice Number(PrimaryKey) FROM Foo; 

Arsenic cold arsenic I tin seat, they each bash the aforesaid happening, and I discovery myself utilizing the 3 successful my codebase. Nevertheless, I don’t similar to bash the aforesaid happening antithetic methods. To which 1 ought to I implement? Is immoderate 1 of them amended than the 2 others?

Bottommost Formation

Usage both Number(tract) oregon Number(*), and implement with it constantly, and if your database permits Number(tableHere) oregon Number(tableHere.*), usage that.

Successful abbreviated, don’t usage Number(1) for thing. It’s a 1-device pony, which seldom does what you privation, and successful these uncommon instances is equal to number(*)

Usage number(*) for counting

Usage * for each your queries that demand to number every thing, equal for joins, usage *

Choice brag.boss_id, Number(subordinate.*) FROM brag Near Articulation subordinate connected subordinate.boss_id = brag.boss_id Radical BY brag.id 

However don’t usage Number(*) for Near joins, arsenic that volition instrument 1 equal if the subordinate array doesn’t lucifer thing from genitor array

Choice brag.boss_id, Number(*) FROM brag Near Articulation subordinate connected subordinate.boss_id = brag.boss_id Radical BY brag.id 

Don’t beryllium fooled by these advising that once utilizing * successful Number, it fetches full line from your array, saying that * is dilatory. The * connected Choice Number(*) and Choice * has nary bearing to all another, they are wholly antithetic happening, they conscionable stock a communal token, i.e. *.

An alternate syntax

Successful information, if it is not permitted to sanction a tract arsenic aforesaid arsenic its array sanction, RDBMS communication decorator may springiness Number(tableNameHere) the aforesaid semantics arsenic Number(*). Illustration:

For counting rows we might person this:

Choice Number(emp) FROM emp 

And they may brand it less complicated:

Choice Number() FROM emp 

And for Near JOINs, we may person this:

Choice brag.boss_id, Number(subordinate) FROM brag Near Articulation subordinate connected subordinate.boss_id = brag.boss_id Radical BY brag.id 

However they can’t bash that (Number(tableNameHere)) since SQL modular permits naming a tract with the aforesaid sanction arsenic its array sanction:

Make Array consequence -- ORM-affable sanction ( fruit_id int NOT NULL, consequence varchar(50), /* aforesaid sanction arsenic array sanction, and fto's opportunity, person forgot to option NOT NULL */ form varchar(50) NOT NULL, colour varchar(50) NOT NULL ) 

Counting with null

And besides, it is not a bully pattern to brand a tract nullable if its sanction matches the array sanction. Opportunity you person values ‘Banana’, ‘Pome’, NULL, ‘Pears’ connected consequence tract. This volition not number each rows, it volition lone output three, not four

Choice number(consequence) FROM consequence 

Although any RDBMS bash that kind of rule (for counting the array’s rows, it accepts array sanction arsenic Number’s parameter), this volition activity successful Postgresql (if location is nary subordinate tract successful immoderate of the 2 tables beneath, i.e. arsenic agelong arsenic location is nary sanction struggle betwixt tract sanction and array sanction):

Choice brag.boss_id, Number(subordinate) FROM brag Near Articulation subordinate connected subordinate.boss_id = brag.boss_id Radical BY brag.id 

However that may origin disorder future if we volition adhd a subordinate tract successful the array, arsenic it volition number the tract(which may beryllium nullable), not the array rows.

Truthful to beryllium connected the harmless broadside, usage:

Choice brag.boss_id, Number(subordinate.*) FROM brag Near Articulation subordinate connected subordinate.boss_id = brag.boss_id Radical BY brag.id 

number(1): The 1-device pony

Successful peculiar to Number(1), it is a 1-device pony, it plant fine lone connected 1 array question:

Choice Number(1) FROM tbl 

However once you usage joins, that device received’t activity connected multi-array queries with out its semantics being confused, and successful peculiar you can not compose:

-- number the subordinates that belongs to brag Choice brag.boss_id, Number(subordinate.1) FROM brag Near Articulation subordinate connected subordinate.boss_id = brag.boss_id Radical BY brag.id 

Truthful what’s the that means of Number(1) present?

Choice brag.boss_id, Number(1) FROM brag Near Articulation subordinate connected subordinate.boss_id = brag.boss_id Radical BY brag.id 

Is it this…?

-- counting each the subordinates lone Choice brag.boss_id, Number(subordinate.boss_id) FROM brag Near Articulation subordinate connected subordinate.boss_id = brag.boss_id Radical BY brag.id 

Oregon this…?

-- oregon is that Number(1) volition besides number 1 for brag careless if brag has a subordinate Choice brag.boss_id, Number(*) FROM brag Near Articulation subordinate connected subordinate.boss_id = brag.boss_id Radical BY brag.id 

By cautious idea, you tin infer that Number(1) is the aforesaid arsenic Number(*), careless of kind of articulation. However for Near JOINs consequence, we can’t mildew Number(1) to activity arsenic: Number(subordinate.boss_id), Number(subordinate.*)

Truthful conscionable usage both of the pursuing:

-- number the subordinates that belongs to brag Choice brag.boss_id, Number(subordinate.boss_id) FROM brag Near Articulation subordinate connected subordinate.boss_id = brag.boss_id Radical BY brag.id 

Plant connected Postgresql, it’s broad that you privation to number the cardinality of the fit

-- number the subordinates that belongs to brag Choice brag.boss_id, Number(subordinate.*) FROM brag Near Articulation subordinate connected subordinate.boss_id = brag.boss_id Radical BY brag.id 

Different manner to number the cardinality of the fit, precise Nation-similar (conscionable don’t brand a file with a sanction aforesaid arsenic its array sanction) : http://www.sqlfiddle.com/#!1/98515/7

choice brag.boss_name, number(subordinate) from brag near articulation subordinate connected subordinate.boss_code = brag.boss_code radical by brag.boss_name 

You can’t bash this: http://www.sqlfiddle.com/#!1/98515/eight

choice brag.boss_name, number(subordinate.1) from brag near articulation subordinate connected subordinate.boss_code = brag.boss_code radical by brag.boss_name 

You tin bash this, however this produces incorrect consequence: http://www.sqlfiddle.com/#!1/98515/9

choice brag.boss_name, number(1) from brag near articulation subordinate connected subordinate.boss_code = brag.boss_code radical by brag.boss_name