SET ROWCOUNT is a command which used when we want to retrieve some specific number of rows from a table using PL/SQL.
If we want to get 2 records from the database then we use SET ROWCOUNT before you select statement then also after it make rowcount to 0 other wise next all select commands shows 2 rows only.
Syntax:
SET ROWCOUNT 2
select * from categories
set rowcount 0
Result:
CatID Name Description CreationDate Active
1 Entertainment Entertainment 2009-12-12 1
2 Social Social 2009-10-10 1
Now this command retrieve 2 records only from the database.
This is simple query for this purpose but we use top keyword in query then ROWCOUNT overwrite that keyword e.g.
Syntax:
SET ROWCOUNT 2
select top 3 * from categories
set rowcount 0
Result:
CatID Name Description CreationDate Active
1 Entertainment Entertainment 2009-12-12 1
2 Social Social 2009-10-10 1
We can see in the result that rowcount override the top statement and get only 2 record from the categories table.
