Summary  
This chapter explains how to sort query results using the ORDER BY clause in SQL, specifying one or more columns to arrange data in ascending (numeric) or alphabetical (string) order and placing it before a LIMIT if used.

General domain of usage  
Relational database querying

We can sort the data we receive in a specific order. To do this, we first retrieve the data using the `SELECT` operator and then apply the `ORDER BY` clause. This clause takes the **names of columns** based on which the output will be sorted. 

Here's the syntax to help us understand:

```sql
SELECT columns
FROM table
ORDER BY column_name
```

Here is the example where we ordering the result by `continent` column:

SELECT continent 
FROM country 
ORDER BY continent;

It's important to note that when you specify a column with integer values, the sorting will be done in **ascending order**. For string columns, the sorting will follow **alphabetical order**.

Also, the `ORDER BY` clause should be placed just before the `LIMIT` clause, if a `LIMIT` clause is included in the query.

**Explanation:** In the example, you can observe that the `ORDER BY` clause sorts the data based on the `continent` column.


What is the main purpose of the `ORDER BY` clause in an SQL query?

What is the default sorting order for numeric and string columns when using the ORDER BY clause in SQL?

This course is perfect for beginners ready to explore the world of SQL. Whether you're just starting out in database management or aiming to use SQL for your application development projects, this course covers the essentials. You'll quickly learn how to leverage the full potential of SQL, from querying and managing data to seamlessly integrating it into real-world applications. By the end of the course, you'll have the confidence and skills to solve practical problems with SQL and enhance your development process.

In this section, we will learn how to use the SQL SELECT statement to get a single table column, multiple table columns, and all table columns. We will also find out how to return unique values.

In this section, we’ll explore how to organize and prioritize the data returned by a query using the ORDER BY clause. Placed at the end of a SELECT statement, this clause lets you sort your results by one or multiple columns, either in ascending or descending order, enabling more meaningful and easily interpretable data output.

In this section, we will learn how to filter returned data using the SELECT statement's WHERE clause. We will learn how to test for equality, inequality, more and less significant than value ranges, and NULL values.

In this section, we’ll explore how to refine your search conditions by combining WHERE clauses with the AND and OR operators. We’ll also cover how the NOT operator can be used to exclude certain results.

In this section, we will learn what the SQL aggregate functions are and how to use them to summarize table data.

Sorting Data

1. What is the main purpose of the `ORDER BY` clause in an SQL query?

2. What is the default sorting order for numeric and string columns when using the ORDER BY clause in SQL?

Sorting Data

1. What is the main purpose of the ORDER BY clause in an SQL query?

2. What is the default sorting order for numeric and string columns when using the ORDER BY clause in SQL?

1. What is the main purpose of the `ORDER BY` clause in an SQL query?