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PostgreSQL - ROW_NUMBER Function - GeeksforGeeks

PostgreSQL - ROW_NUMBER Function

Last Updated : 15 Jul, 2025

The PostgreSQL ROW_NUMBER function is a crucial part of window functions, enabling users to assign unique sequential integers to rows within a dataset. This function is invaluable for tasks such as ranking, pagination and identifying duplicates.

In this article, we will provide PostgreSQL ROW_NUMBER Function that explains its practical applications along with their syntax and examples.

What is the PostgreSQL ROW_NUMBER() Function?

The ROW_NUMBER() function generates a unique number for each row in a result set, starting from 1 for the first row.
This numbering is reset whenever the partition changes (if used with the PARTITION BY clause).

Key Features of ROW_NUMBER()

Sequential Numbering: Each row in the result set is assigned a unique number based on the specified order.
Partitioning: The function can partition the result set into subsets, allowing for separate numbering within each partition.
Sorting: The order of the assigned numbers can be defined using the ORDER BY clause.

Syntax of ROW_NUMBER()

The syntax for the ROW_NUMBER() function is as follows:

ROW_NUMBER() OVER ( [PARTITION BY partition_expression] ORDER BY order_expression )

Explanation:

PARTITION BY partition_expression: This clause is optional and divides the result set into partitions to which the ROW_NUMBER() function is applied. Each partition is numbered independently.
ORDER BY order_expression: This clause is mandatory and specifies the order in which rows are numbered within each partition.

When to Use ROW_NUMBER()

The ROW_NUMBER() function is particularly useful in the following scenarios:

Pagination: When displaying large datasets, ROW_NUMBER() can help in retrieving a specific range of records.
Ranking: It can be used to assign ranks to rows based on specific criteria.
Removing Duplicates: It can help identify duplicates by numbering rows within groups.

Examples of PostgreSQL ROW_NUMBER()

Let's go through some practical examples to illustrate the use of the ROW_NUMBER() function.

Example 1: Basic Usage of ROW_NUMBER()

Consider a table named employees with the following data:

id name department salary 1 Alice HR 50000 2 Bob IT 60000 3 Charlie HR 70000 4 David IT 80000 5 Eva Marketing 55000

Query:

SELECT 
    id, 
    name, 
    department, 
    salary,
    ROW_NUMBER() OVER (ORDER BY salary DESC) AS row_num
FROM employees;

Output:

id name department salary row_num 4 David IT 80000 1 3 Charlie HR 70000 2 2 Bob IT 60000 3 5 Eva Marketing 55000 4 1 Alice HR 50000 5

In this example, the ROW_NUMBER() function assigns a unique number to each employee based on their salary in descending order.

Example 2: Using ROW_NUMBER() with PARTITION BY Clause

Now, let's say we want to assign row numbers within each department.

Query:

SELECT 
    id, 
    name, 
    department, 
    salary,
    ROW_NUMBER() OVER (PARTITION BY department ORDER BY salary DESC) AS row_num
FROM employees;

Output:

id name department salary row_num 3 Charlie HR 70000 1 1 Alice HR 50000 2 2 Bob IT 60000 1 4 David IT 80000 2 5 Eva Marketing 55000 1

In this example, the ROW_NUMBER() function partitions the employees by department and assigns a row number based on their salary within each department.

Example 3: Combining ROW_NUMBER() with Common Table Expressions (CTE)

Common Table Expressions (CTEs) can enhance the readability of complex queries. Let's say we want to find the highest-paid employee in each department.

Query:

WITH RankedEmployees AS (
    SELECT 
        id, 
        name, 
        department, 
        salary,
        ROW_NUMBER() OVER (PARTITION BY department ORDER BY salary DESC) AS row_num
    FROM employees
)
SELECT * 
FROM RankedEmployees 
WHERE row_num = 1;

Output:

id name department salary 3 Charlie HR 70000 4 David IT 80000 5 Eva Marketing 55000

In this example, the CTE RankedEmployees assigns row numbers to each employee within their respective departments, and the main query selects only those with the highest salary.

Important Points About PostgreSQL ROW_NUMBER() Function

ROW_NUMBER() is a window function, meaning it requires an OVER clause to define the window of rows it operates on.
The ROW_NUMBER() function assigns a unique integer to each row starting from 1 without skipping any numbers, even if rows have the same values in the columns used for ordering.
The PARTITION BY clause divides the result set into partitions to which the ROW_NUMBER() function is applied independently. Without PARTITION BY, the function treats the entire result set as a single partition.
ROW_NUMBER() can be combined with other window functions such as RANK(), DENSE_RANK(), and NTILE() to achieve different types of ranking and partitioning.

Conclusion

In summary, the PostgreSQL ROW_NUMBER function is a powerful feature of PostgreSQL window functions that allows users to assign unique sequential numbers to rows within a partition of a result set. With the provided SQL ROW_NUMBER examples, it is clear how this function can be applied for various purposes, including ranking and pagination. Understanding the PostgreSQL ROW_NUMBER syntax is essential for effectively utilizing this functionality in your SQL queries, ultimately enhancing your data analysis and manipulation skills.

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