How to randomly select rows in SQL?

Question

I am using MSSQL Server 2005. In my DB, I have a table customerNames which has two columns Id and Name and approx. 1,000 results.

I am creating a functionality where I have to pick 5 customers randomly every time.

Can anyone tell me how to create a query which will get random 5 rows (Id and Name) every time when query is executed?

Answer 1

SELECT TOP 5 Id, Name FROM customerNames
ORDER BY NEWID()

That said, everybody seems to come to this page for the more general answer to your question:

Selecting a random row in SQL

Select a random row with MySQL:

SELECT column FROM table
ORDER BY RAND()
LIMIT 1

Select a random row with PostgreSQL:

SELECT column FROM table
ORDER BY RANDOM()
LIMIT 1

Select a random row with Microsoft SQL Server:

SELECT TOP 1 column FROM table
ORDER BY NEWID()

Select a random row with IBM DB2

SELECT column, RAND() as IDX 
FROM table 
ORDER BY IDX FETCH FIRST 1 ROWS ONLY

Select a random record with Oracle:

SELECT column FROM
( SELECT column FROM table
ORDER BY dbms_random.value )
WHERE rownum = 1

Select a random row with sqlite:

SELECT column FROM table 
ORDER BY RANDOM() LIMIT 1