Dense Rank SQL

How does the DENSE_RANK() function work in SQL?

DENSE_RANK() assigns ranks to rows within a partition based on a specified order, but without gaps in the ranking sequence. This is different from RANK() which allows gaps.

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Description

Example H2

Example H3

The DENSE_RANK() function in SQL is a window function that assigns a rank to each row within a partition based on a specified order. It's crucial for scenarios where you need a continuous ranking without skipping numbers. Imagine you're ranking employees by salary within each department. If two employees have the same salary, DENSE_RANK() will assign them the same rank, and the next rank will be immediately after, without skipping any numbers. This is different from the RANK() function, which assigns ranks with gaps when there are ties. For example, if three employees share the same second-highest salary, RANK() would assign ranks 2, 2, and 2, then the next rank would be 5. DENSE_RANK() would assign ranks 2, 2, 2, and then 3. This continuous ranking is often useful for reporting and analysis.

Why Dense Rank SQL is important

DENSE_RANK() is important because it provides a continuous ranking, which is often necessary for reporting and analysis where you want to avoid gaps in the ranking sequence. This is particularly useful when comparing relative positions within groups.

Dense Rank SQL Example Usage


CREATE TABLE SalesData (
    SalesPerson VARCHAR(50),
    SalesAmount DECIMAL(10, 2)
);

INSERT INTO SalesData (SalesPerson, SalesAmount) VALUES
('John Doe', 10000),
('Jane Smith', 12000),
('David Lee', 15000),
('Emily Brown', 12000),
('Michael Davis', 10000);

SELECT
    SalesPerson,
    SalesAmount,
    DENSE_RANK() OVER (ORDER BY SalesAmount DESC) AS SalesRank
FROM
    SalesData;

Dense Rank SQL Syntax

Common Mistakes

Forgetting to use the OVER clause with window functions like DENSE_RANK().
Incorrectly specifying the ORDER BY clause, leading to incorrect ranking.
Confusing DENSE_RANK() with RANK(), which has gaps in the ranking sequence.
Not understanding the importance of the PARTITION BY clause when working with multiple groups.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How does DENSE_RANK() differ from RANK() when handling ties in SQL?

DENSE_RANK() assigns the same rank to rows with identical ordering values but does not leave gaps afterward, ensuring a continuous sequence (e.g., 1, 2, 2, 2, 3). In contrast, RANK() also gives equal values the same rank yet skips numbers after the tie (e.g., 1, 2, 2, 2, 5). This makes DENSE_RANK() ideal when you need uninterrupted ranking for analytics or reporting.

In what scenarios should I choose DENSE_RANK() instead of RANK() for reporting?

Use DENSE_RANK() when your report consumers expect consecutive rank numbers without gaps—such as leaderboard positions, salary bands within departments, or tiered customer segments. Continuous ranking simplifies visualizations and downstream calculations because you never have to account for missing integers caused by ties.

Can Galaxy’s AI copilot help me write and optimize DENSE_RANK() queries?

Absolutely. Galaxy’s context-aware AI copilot can auto-complete the DENSE_RANK() window function, suggest the correct PARTITION BY and ORDER BY clauses, and even refactor your query if the underlying schema changes. This lets engineers and data teams generate, share, and endorse ranking queries in seconds—without pasting SQL into Slack or Notion.