The FIRST() Function
The FIRST() function returns the first value of the selected column.
SQL FIRST() Syntax
SELECT FIRST(column_name) FROM table_name;
Note: The FIRST() function is only supported in MS Access.
SQL FIRST() Workaround in SQL Server, MySQL and Oracle
SQL Server Syntax
SELECT TOP 1 column_name FROM table_name
ORDER BY column_name ASC;
ORDER BY column_name ASC;
Example
SELECT TOP 1 CustomerName FROM Customers
ORDER BY CustomerID ASC;
ORDER BY CustomerID ASC;
MySQL Syntax
SELECT column_name FROM table_name
ORDER BY column_name ASC
LIMIT 1;
ORDER BY column_name ASC
LIMIT 1;
Example
SELECT CustomerName FROM Customers
ORDER BY CustomerID ASC
LIMIT 1;
ORDER BY CustomerID ASC
LIMIT 1;
Oracle Syntax
SELECT column_name FROM table_name
ORDER BY column_name ASC
WHERE ROWNUM <=1;
ORDER BY column_name ASC
WHERE ROWNUM <=1;
Example
SELECT CustomerName FROM Customers
ORDER BY CustomerID ASC
WHERE ROWNUM <=1;
ORDER BY CustomerID ASC
WHERE ROWNUM <=1;