SQL Order By

The SQL Order By clause is used to sort the result set of a query by on more columns. By default, the results are sorted in ascending order, but you can also sort them in descendinng order.

SQL Order By Syntax

SELECT column1, column2, ...
FROM table_name
ORDER BY column1 [ASC | DESC], column2 [ASC | DESC], ...;

SELECT column1, column2, ...

FROM table_name

ORDER BY column1 [ASC | DESC], column2 [ASC | DESC], ...;

SQL Order By Example

SQL Order By Descending Order Example

This query retrieves all columns from the PATIENTS table and sorts the results by the dob (date of birth) coluumn in descending order.

SELECT * FROM Patients
ORDER BY dob DESC;

SELECT * FROM Patients

ORDER BY dob DESC;

SQL Order By Several Columns Example

This query retrieves all columns from the DOCTORS table and sorts the results by the specialty column in ascending order. Within each specialty, it further sorts the results by the last_name column, also in ascending order.

SELECT * FROM Doctors
ORDER BY specialty ASC, last_name ASC;

SELECT * FROM Doctors

ORDER BY specialty ASC, last_name ASC;

SQL Order By Using both Ascending and Descending Order Example

This query retrieves all columns from the APPOINTMENTS table and sorts the results by the STATUS column in ascending order. Within eash status category, it further sorts the results by the appointment_date column in descending order.

SELECT * FROM Appointments
ORDER BY status ASC, appointment_date DESC;

SELECT * FROM Appointments

ORDER BY status ASC, appointment_date DESC;

SQL Order By Visual Diagram

SQL Order By Labs