What is the best way to paginate results in SQL Server

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What is the best way (performance wise) to paginate results in SQL Server 2000, 2005, 2008, 2012 if you also want to get the total number of results (before paginating)?

19 Answers

Getting the total number of results and paginating are two different operations. For the sake of this example, let's assume that the query you're dealing with is

SELECT * FROM Orders WHERE OrderDate >= '1980-01-01' ORDER BY OrderDate

In this case, you would determine the total number of results using:

SELECT COUNT(*) FROM Orders WHERE OrderDate >= '1980-01-01'

...which may seem inefficient, but is actually pretty performant, assuming all indexes etc. are properly set up.

Next, to get actual results back in a paged fashion, the following query would be most efficient:

SELECT  *
FROM    ( SELECT    ROW_NUMBER() OVER ( ORDER BY OrderDate ) AS RowNum, *
          FROM      Orders
          WHERE     OrderDate >= '1980-01-01'
        ) AS RowConstrainedResult
WHERE   RowNum >= 1
    AND RowNum < 20
ORDER BY RowNum

This will return rows 1-19 of the original query. The cool thing here, especially for web apps, is that you don't have to keep any state, except the row numbers to be returned.

There is a good overview of different paging techniques at http://www.codeproject.com/KB/aspnet/PagingLarge.aspx

I've used ROWCOUNT method quite often mostly with SQL Server 2000 (will work with 2005 & 2008 too, just measure performance compared to ROW_NUMBER), it's lightning fast, but you need to make sure that the sorted column(s) have (mostly) unique values.

For SQL Server 2000 you can simulate ROW_NUMBER() using a table variable with an IDENTITY column:

DECLARE @pageNo int -- 1 based
DECLARE @pageSize int
SET @pageNo = 51
SET @pageSize = 20

DECLARE @firstRecord int
DECLARE @lastRecord int
SET @firstRecord = (@pageNo - 1) * @pageSize + 1 -- 1001
SET @lastRecord = @firstRecord + @pageSize - 1   -- 1020

DECLARE @orderedKeys TABLE (
  rownum int IDENTITY NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY CLUSTERED,
  TableKey int NOT NULL
)

SET ROWCOUNT @lastRecord
INSERT INTO @orderedKeys (TableKey) SELECT ID FROM Orders WHERE OrderDate >= '1980-01-01' ORDER BY OrderDate

SET ROWCOUNT 0

SELECT t.*
FROM Orders t
  INNER JOIN @orderedKeys o ON o.TableKey = t.ID
WHERE o.rownum >= @firstRecord
ORDER BY o.rownum

This approach can be extended to tables with multi-column keys, and it doesn't incur the performance overhead of using OR (which skips index usage). The downside is the amount of temporary space used up if the data set is very large and one is near the last page. I did not test cursor performance in that case, but it might be better.

Note that this approach could be optimized for the first page of data. Also, ROWCOUNT was used since TOP does not accept a variable in SQL Server 2000.

The best way for paging in sql server 2012 is by using offset and fetch next in a stored procedure. OFFSET Keyword - If we use offset with the order by clause then the query will skip the number of records we specified in OFFSET n Rows.

FETCH NEXT Keywords - When we use Fetch Next with an order by clause only it will returns the no of rows you want to display in paging, without Offset then SQL will generate an error. here is the example given below.

create procedure sp_paging
(
 @pageno as int,
 @records as int
)
as
begin
declare @offsetcount as int
set @offsetcount=(@pageno-1)*@records
select id,bs,variable from salary order by id offset @offsetcount rows fetch Next @records rows only
end

you can execute it as follow.

exec sp_paging 2,3

These are my solutions for paging the result of query in SQL server side. these approaches are different between SQL Server 2008 and 2012. Also, I have added the concept of filtering and order by with one column. It is very efficient when you are paging and filtering and ordering in your Gridview.

Before testing, you have to create one sample table and insert some row in this table : (In real world you have to change Where clause considering your table fields and maybe you have some join and subquery in main part of select)

Create Table VLT
(
    ID int IDentity(1,1),
    Name nvarchar(50),
    Tel Varchar(20)
)
GO


Insert INTO VLT
VALUES
    ('NAME' + Convert(varchar(10),@@identity),'FAMIL' + Convert(varchar(10),@@identity))
GO 500000

In all of these sample, I want to query 200 rows per page and I am fetching the row for page number 1200.

In SQL server 2008, you can use the CTE concept. Because of that, I have written two type of query for SQL server 2008+

-- SQL Server 2008+

DECLARE @PageNumber Int = 1200
DECLARE @PageSize INT = 200
DECLARE @SortByField int = 1 --The field used for sort by
DECLARE @SortOrder nvarchar(255) = 'ASC' --ASC or DESC
DECLARE @FilterType nvarchar(255) = 'None' --The filter type, as defined on the client side (None/Contain/NotContain/Match/NotMatch/True/False/)
DECLARE @FilterValue nvarchar(255) = '' --The value the user gave for the filter
DECLARE @FilterColumn int = 1 --The column to wich the filter is applied, represents the column number like when we send the information.

SELECT 
  Data.ID,
  Data.Name,
  Data.Tel
FROM
  (  
    SELECT 
      ROW_NUMBER() 
        OVER( ORDER BY 
                CASE WHEN @SortByField = 1 AND @SortOrder = 'ASC'
                      THEN VLT.ID END ASC,
                CASE WHEN @SortByField = 1 AND @SortOrder = 'DESC'
                      THEN VLT.ID END DESC,
                CASE WHEN @SortByField = 2 AND @SortOrder = 'ASC'
                      THEN VLT.Name END ASC,
                CASE WHEN @SortByField = 2 AND @SortOrder = 'DESC'
                      THEN VLT.Name END ASC,
                CASE WHEN @SortByField = 3 AND @SortOrder = 'ASC'
                      THEN VLT.Tel END ASC,
                CASE WHEN @SortByField = 3 AND @SortOrder = 'DESC'
                      THEN VLT.Tel END ASC
         ) AS RowNum
      ,*  
    FROM VLT 
    WHERE
      ( -- We apply the filter logic here
        CASE
          WHEN @FilterType = 'None' THEN 1

          -- Name column filter
          WHEN @FilterType = 'Contain' AND @FilterColumn = 1
            AND ( -- In this case, when the filter value is empty, we want to show everything.
                VLT.ID LIKE '%' + @FilterValue + '%'
               OR
                @FilterValue = ''
               ) THEN 1
          WHEN @FilterType = 'NotContain' AND @FilterColumn = 1
            AND ( -- In this case, when the filter value is empty, we want to show everything.
                VLT.ID NOT LIKE '%' + @FilterValue + '%'
               OR
                @FilterValue = ''
               ) THEN 1
          WHEN @FilterType = 'Match' AND @FilterColumn = 1
            AND VLT.ID = @FilterValue THEN 1
          WHEN @FilterType = 'NotMatch' AND @FilterColumn = 1
            AND VLT.ID <> @FilterValue THEN 1               

          -- Name column filter
          WHEN @FilterType = 'Contain' AND @FilterColumn = 2
            AND ( -- In this case, when the filter value is empty, we want to show everything.
                VLT.Name LIKE '%' + @FilterValue + '%'
               OR
                @FilterValue = ''
               ) THEN 1
          WHEN @FilterType = 'NotContain' AND @FilterColumn = 2
            AND ( -- In this case, when the filter value is empty, we want to show everything.
                VLT.Name NOT LIKE '%' + @FilterValue + '%'
               OR
                @FilterValue = ''
               ) THEN 1
          WHEN @FilterType = 'Match' AND @FilterColumn = 2
            AND VLT.Name = @FilterValue THEN 1
          WHEN @FilterType = 'NotMatch' AND @FilterColumn = 2
            AND VLT.Name <> @FilterValue THEN 1         

         -- Tel column filter   
         WHEN @FilterType = 'Contain' AND @FilterColumn = 3
            AND ( -- In this case, when the filter value is empty, we want to show everything.
                VLT.Tel LIKE '%' + @FilterValue + '%'
               OR
                @FilterValue = ''
               ) THEN 1
          WHEN @FilterType = 'NotContain' AND @FilterColumn = 3
            AND ( -- In this case, when the filter value is empty, we want to show everything.
                VLT.Tel NOT LIKE '%' + @FilterValue + '%'
               OR
                @FilterValue = ''
               ) THEN 1
          WHEN @FilterType = 'Match' AND @FilterColumn = 3
            AND VLT.Tel = @FilterValue THEN 1
          WHEN @FilterType = 'NotMatch' AND @FilterColumn = 3
            AND VLT.Tel <> @FilterValue THEN 1    

        END
      ) = 1   
  ) AS Data
WHERE Data.RowNum > @PageSize * (@PageNumber - 1)
  AND Data.RowNum <= @PageSize * @PageNumber
ORDER BY Data.RowNum

GO

And second solution with CTE in SQL server 2008+

DECLARE @PageNumber Int = 1200
DECLARE @PageSize INT = 200
DECLARE @SortByField int = 1 --The field used for sort by
DECLARE @SortOrder nvarchar(255) = 'ASC' --ASC or DESC
DECLARE @FilterType nvarchar(255) = 'None' --The filter type, as defined on the client side (None/Contain/NotContain/Match/NotMatch/True/False/)
DECLARE @FilterValue nvarchar(255) = '' --The value the user gave for the filter
DECLARE @FilterColumn int = 1 --The column to wich the filter is applied, represents the column number like when we send the information.

;WITH
  Data_CTE
  AS
  (  
    SELECT 
      ROW_NUMBER() 
        OVER( ORDER BY 
                CASE WHEN @SortByField = 1 AND @SortOrder = 'ASC'
                      THEN VLT.ID END ASC,
                CASE WHEN @SortByField = 1 AND @SortOrder = 'DESC'
                      THEN VLT.ID END DESC,
                CASE WHEN @SortByField = 2 AND @SortOrder = 'ASC'
                      THEN VLT.Name END ASC,
                CASE WHEN @SortByField = 2 AND @SortOrder = 'DESC'
                      THEN VLT.Name END ASC,
                CASE WHEN @SortByField = 3 AND @SortOrder = 'ASC'
                      THEN VLT.Tel END ASC,
                CASE WHEN @SortByField = 3 AND @SortOrder = 'DESC'
                      THEN VLT.Tel END ASC
         ) AS RowNum
      ,*  
    FROM VLT
    WHERE
      ( -- We apply the filter logic here
        CASE
          WHEN @FilterType = 'None' THEN 1

          -- Name column filter
          WHEN @FilterType = 'Contain' AND @FilterColumn = 1
            AND ( -- In this case, when the filter value is empty, we want to show everything.
                VLT.ID LIKE '%' + @FilterValue + '%'
               OR
                @FilterValue = ''
               ) THEN 1
          WHEN @FilterType = 'NotContain' AND @FilterColumn = 1
            AND ( -- In this case, when the filter value is empty, we want to show everything.
                VLT.ID NOT LIKE '%' + @FilterValue + '%'
               OR
                @FilterValue = ''
               ) THEN 1
          WHEN @FilterType = 'Match' AND @FilterColumn = 1
            AND VLT.ID = @FilterValue THEN 1
          WHEN @FilterType = 'NotMatch' AND @FilterColumn = 1
            AND VLT.ID <> @FilterValue THEN 1               

          -- Name column filter
          WHEN @FilterType = 'Contain' AND @FilterColumn = 2
            AND ( -- In this case, when the filter value is empty, we want to show everything.
                VLT.Name LIKE '%' + @FilterValue + '%'
               OR
                @FilterValue = ''
               ) THEN 1
          WHEN @FilterType = 'NotContain' AND @FilterColumn = 2
            AND ( -- In this case, when the filter value is empty, we want to show everything.
                VLT.Name NOT LIKE '%' + @FilterValue + '%'
               OR
                @FilterValue = ''
               ) THEN 1
          WHEN @FilterType = 'Match' AND @FilterColumn = 2
            AND VLT.Name = @FilterValue THEN 1
          WHEN @FilterType = 'NotMatch' AND @FilterColumn = 2
            AND VLT.Name <> @FilterValue THEN 1         

         -- Tel column filter   
         WHEN @FilterType = 'Contain' AND @FilterColumn = 3
            AND ( -- In this case, when the filter value is empty, we want to show everything.
                VLT.Tel LIKE '%' + @FilterValue + '%'
               OR
                @FilterValue = ''
               ) THEN 1
          WHEN @FilterType = 'NotContain' AND @FilterColumn = 3
            AND ( -- In this case, when the filter value is empty, we want to show everything.
                VLT.Tel NOT LIKE '%' + @FilterValue + '%'
               OR
                @FilterValue = ''
               ) THEN 1
          WHEN @FilterType = 'Match' AND @FilterColumn = 3
            AND VLT.Tel = @FilterValue THEN 1
          WHEN @FilterType = 'NotMatch' AND @FilterColumn = 3
            AND VLT.Tel <> @FilterValue THEN 1    

        END
      ) = 1     
  )

SELECT 
  Data.ID,
  Data.Name,
  Data.Tel
FROM Data_CTE AS Data
WHERE Data.RowNum > @PageSize * (@PageNumber - 1)
  AND Data.RowNum <= @PageSize * @PageNumber
ORDER BY Data.RowNum

-- SQL Server 2012+

DECLARE @PageNumber Int = 1200
DECLARE @PageSize INT = 200
DECLARE @SortByField int = 1 --The field used for sort by
DECLARE @SortOrder nvarchar(255) = 'ASC' --ASC or DESC
DECLARE @FilterType nvarchar(255) = 'None' --The filter type, as defined on the client side (None/Contain/NotContain/Match/NotMatch/True/False/)
DECLARE @FilterValue nvarchar(255) = '' --The value the user gave for the filter
DECLARE @FilterColumn int = 1 --The column to wich the filter is applied, represents the column number like when we send the information.

;WITH
  Data_CTE
  AS
  (  
    SELECT 
      *  
    FROM VLT
    WHERE
      ( -- We apply the filter logic here
        CASE
          WHEN @FilterType = 'None' THEN 1

          -- Name column filter
          WHEN @FilterType = 'Contain' AND @FilterColumn = 1
            AND ( -- In this case, when the filter value is empty, we want to show everything.
                VLT.ID LIKE '%' + @FilterValue + '%'
               OR
                @FilterValue = ''
               ) THEN 1
          WHEN @FilterType = 'NotContain' AND @FilterColumn = 1
            AND ( -- In this case, when the filter value is empty, we want to show everything.
                VLT.ID NOT LIKE '%' + @FilterValue + '%'
               OR
                @FilterValue = ''
               ) THEN 1
          WHEN @FilterType = 'Match' AND @FilterColumn = 1
            AND VLT.ID = @FilterValue THEN 1
          WHEN @FilterType = 'NotMatch' AND @FilterColumn = 1
            AND VLT.ID <> @FilterValue THEN 1               

          -- Name column filter
          WHEN @FilterType = 'Contain' AND @FilterColumn = 2
            AND ( -- In this case, when the filter value is empty, we want to show everything.
                VLT.Name LIKE '%' + @FilterValue + '%'
               OR
                @FilterValue = ''
               ) THEN 1
          WHEN @FilterType = 'NotContain' AND @FilterColumn = 2
            AND ( -- In this case, when the filter value is empty, we want to show everything.
                VLT.Name NOT LIKE '%' + @FilterValue + '%'
               OR
                @FilterValue = ''
               ) THEN 1
          WHEN @FilterType = 'Match' AND @FilterColumn = 2
            AND VLT.Name = @FilterValue THEN 1
          WHEN @FilterType = 'NotMatch' AND @FilterColumn = 2
            AND VLT.Name <> @FilterValue THEN 1         

         -- Tel column filter   
         WHEN @FilterType = 'Contain' AND @FilterColumn = 3
            AND ( -- In this case, when the filter value is empty, we want to show everything.
                VLT.Tel LIKE '%' + @FilterValue + '%'
               OR
                @FilterValue = ''
               ) THEN 1
          WHEN @FilterType = 'NotContain' AND @FilterColumn = 3
            AND ( -- In this case, when the filter value is empty, we want to show everything.
                VLT.Tel NOT LIKE '%' + @FilterValue + '%'
               OR
                @FilterValue = ''
               ) THEN 1
          WHEN @FilterType = 'Match' AND @FilterColumn = 3
            AND VLT.Tel = @FilterValue THEN 1
          WHEN @FilterType = 'NotMatch' AND @FilterColumn = 3
            AND VLT.Tel <> @FilterValue THEN 1    

        END
      ) = 1         
  )

SELECT 
  Data.ID,
  Data.Name,
  Data.Tel
FROM Data_CTE AS Data
ORDER BY 
    CASE WHEN @SortByField = 1 AND @SortOrder = 'ASC'
        THEN Data.ID END ASC,
    CASE WHEN @SortByField = 1 AND @SortOrder = 'DESC'
        THEN Data.ID END DESC,
    CASE WHEN @SortByField = 2 AND @SortOrder = 'ASC'
        THEN Data.Name END ASC,
    CASE WHEN @SortByField = 2 AND @SortOrder = 'DESC'
        THEN Data.Name END ASC,
    CASE WHEN @SortByField = 3 AND @SortOrder = 'ASC'
        THEN Data.Tel END ASC,
    CASE WHEN @SortByField = 3 AND @SortOrder = 'DESC'
        THEN Data.Tel END ASC
OFFSET @PageSize * (@PageNumber - 1) ROWS FETCH NEXT @PageSize ROWS ONLY;

From 2012 onward we can use OFFSET 10 ROWS FETCH NEXT 10 ROWS ONLY

This is a duplicate of the 2012 old SO question: efficient way to implement paging

FROM [TableX] ORDER BY [FieldX] OFFSET 500 ROWS FETCH NEXT 100 ROWS ONLY

Here the topic is discussed in greater details, and with alternate approaches.

Well I have used the following sample query in my SQL 2000 database, it works well for SQL 2005 too. The power it gives you is dynamically order by using multiple columns. I tell you ... this is powerful :)

    ALTER PROCEDURE [dbo].[RE_ListingReports_SelectSummary] 

@CompanyID  int,
@pageNumber     int,
@pageSize   int, 
@sort       varchar(200)
AS

DECLARE @sql nvarchar(4000)
DECLARE @strPageSize nvarchar(20)
DECLARE @strSkippedRows nvarchar(20)
DECLARE @strFields nvarchar(4000)
DECLARE @strFilter nvarchar(4000)
DECLARE @sortBy nvarchar(4000)
DECLARE @strFrom nvarchar(4000)
DECLARE @strID nvarchar(100)

If(@pageNumber < 0)
  SET @pageNumber = 1
SET @strPageSize = CAST(@pageSize AS varchar(20)) 
SET @strSkippedRows = CAST(((@pageNumber - 1) * @pageSize) AS varchar(20))-- For    example if pageNumber is 5  pageSize is 10, then SkippedRows = 40.
SET @strID = 'ListingDbID'
SET @strFields = 'ListingDbID,
ListingID,  
[ExtraRoom]
'
SET @strFrom = ' vwListingSummary '

SET @strFilter = ' WHERE
        CompanyID = ' + CAST(@CompanyID As varchar(20)) 
End
SET @sortBy = ''
if(len(ltrim(rtrim(@sort))) > 0)
SET @sortBy = ' Order By ' + @sort

-- Total Rows Count

SET @sql =  'SELECT Count(' + @strID + ')  FROM ' + @strFROM + @strFilter
EXEC sp_executesql @sql

--// This technique is used in a Single Table pagination
SET @sql = 'SELECT ' + @strFields + ' FROM ' + @strFROM +
    ' WHERE ' + @strID +  ' IN ' + 
   '  (SELECT TOP ' + @strPageSize + ' ' + @strID + ' FROM ' + @strFROM + @strFilter + 
             ' AND  ' + @strID + ' NOT IN ' + '
          (SELECT TOP ' + @strSkippedRows + ' ' + @strID + ' FROM ' + @strFROM + @strFilter + @SortBy + ') ' 
   + @SortBy + ') ' + @SortBy
Print @sql 
EXEC sp_executesql @sql

The best part is sp_executesql caches later calls, provided you pass same parameters i.e generate same sql text.

create PROCEDURE SP_Company_List (@pagesize int = -1 ,@pageindex int= 0   ) > AS BEGIN  SET NOCOUNT ON;


    select  Id , NameEn     from Company  ORDER by Id ASC  
OFFSET (@pageindex-1 )* @pagesize   ROWS FETCH NEXt @pagesize ROWS ONLY END  GO

DECLARE   @return_value int

EXEC  @return_value = [dbo].[SP_Company_List]         @pagesize = 1 ,         > @pageindex = 2

SELECT    'Return Value' = @return_value

GO

This bit gives you ability to paginate using SQL Server, and newer versions of MySQL and carries the total number of rows in every row. Uses your pimary key to count number of unique rows.

WITH T AS
(  
  SELECT TABLE_ID, ROW_NUMBER() OVER (ORDER BY TABLE_ID) AS RN
  , (SELECT COUNT(TABLE_ID) FROM TABLE) AS TOTAL 
  FROM TABLE (NOLOCK)
)

SELECT T2.FIELD1, T2.FIELD2, T2.FIELD3, T.TOTAL 
FROM TABLE T2 (NOLOCK)
INNER JOIN T ON T2.TABLE_ID=T.TABLE_ID
WHERE T.RN >= 100
AND T.RN < 200

You didn't specify the language nor which driver you are using. Therefore I'm describing it abstractly.

  • Create a scrollable resultset / dataset. This required a primary on the table(s)
  • jump to the end
  • request the row count
  • jump to the start of the page
  • scroll through the rows until the end of the page
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