The LAST() Function
The LAST() function returns the last value of the selected column.
SQL LAST() Syntax
SELECT LAST(column_name) FROM table_name;
Note: The LAST() function is only supported in MS Access.
SQL LAST() Workaround in SQL Server, MySQL and Oracle
SQL Server Syntax
SELECT TOP 1 column_name
FROM table_name
ORDER BY column_name DESC;
Example
SELECT TOP 1 CustomerName FROM Customers
ORDER BY CustomerID DESC;
MySQL Syntax
SELECT column_name FROM table_name
ORDER BY column_name DESC
LIMIT 1;
Example
SELECT CustomerName FROM Customers
ORDER BY CustomerID DESC
LIMIT 1;
Oracle Syntax
SELECT column_name FROM table_name
ORDER BY
column_name DESC
WHERE ROWNUM <=1;
Example
SELECT CustomerName FROM Customers
ORDER BY CustomerID DESC
WHERE
ROWNUM <=1;
Demo Database
In this tutorial we will use the well-known Northwind sample database.
Below is a selection from the "Customers" table:
| CustomerID | CustomerName | ContactName | Address | City | PostalCode | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Alfreds Futterkiste | Maria Anders | Obere Str. 57 | Berlin | 12209 | Germany |
| 2 | Ana Trujillo Emparedados y helados | Ana Trujillo | Avda. de la Constitucion 2222 | Mexico D.F. | 05021 | Mexico |
| 3 | Antonio Moreno Taqueria | Antonio Moreno | Mataderos 2312 | Mexico D.F. | 05023 | Mexico |
| 4 |
Around the Horn | Thomas Hardy | 120 Hanover Sq. | London | WA1 1DP | UK |
| 5 | Berglunds snabbkop | Christina Berglund | Berguvsvagen 8 | Lulea | S-958 22 | Sweden |
SQL LAST() Example
The following SQL statement selects the last value of the "CustomerName" column from the "Customers" table: