Multi-column ordering
- SQL course
- Beginner
- Lesson 15/115
- 4 min
Sort by multiple columns.
Multi-column ordering
To sort by multiple columns you separate them with commas. It sorts by the first, then by the second for ties.
SELECT name, category, price
FROM products
ORDER BY category, price DESC;It sorts by category ascending, then by price descending within each category.
name, category, price is selected from products. The result is sorted by category, price in descending order.
Multi-column ordering — details
You can give each column its own direction. ORDER BY category ASC, price DESC is valid. A secondary column breaks ties.
For example, to list products in each category starting from the cheapest, you write ORDER BY category, price ASC.
Practice Multi-column ordering
Select name, category and price from products ordered by category then price descending.
Starter code
-- sort by two columns
SELECT name, category, price
FROM products
ORDER BYSample solution
SELECT name, category, price
FROM products
ORDER BY category, price DESCExpected output
name category price Kalem kırtasiye 5 Silgi kırtasiye 2 Çanta aksesuar 25
Questions and answers
Review the lesson questions together with their answers. To test yourself, solve the lesson interactively.
1 Multi-column ordering: match the terms
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
comma |
separate columns |
ASC |
ascending |
DESC |
descending |
ORDER BY |
sort |
2 Two-column sort
SELECT name FROM products
ORDER BY category, ____;SELECT name FROM products
ORDER BY category, price;Explanation: ORDER BY category, price sorts by category first, then by price within each category.
3 What does ORDER BY category, price do?
- Only by category
- Only by price
- By category first, then by price Correct answer
- Random
Explanation: Primary column first, secondary for ties.