Simply SQL

Chapter 7 The SELECT Clause

The SELECT clause has been used in every sample SQL SELECT statement we’ve seen so far. This is not surprising, because the SELECT clause is mandatory; it’s the first clause in any SELECT statement. I’ve tried to avoid describing the SELECT clause in too much detail along the way, in order not to detract from the other clauses being discussed, but now it’s time for us to get to know the SELECT clause a little better.

We’ve taken a different route to arrive here than most SQL tutorials or books, which usually begin with the SELECT clause. Instead, we looked at the other clauses of the SELECT statement first, and there’s a very good reason why we do this: it’s the order in which they’re executed.

In the preceding ...