How to read the last row with SQL Server

Question

What is the most efficient way to read the last row with SQL Server?

The table is indexed on a unique key -- the \"bottom\" key values represent the last row.

Answer 1

You'll need some sort of uniquely identifying column in your table, like an auto-filling primary key or a datetime column (preferably the primary key). Then you can do this:

SELECT * FROM table_name ORDER BY unique_column DESC LIMIT 1

The ORDER BY column tells it to rearange the results according to that column's data, and the DESC tells it to reverse the results (thus putting the last one first). After that, the LIMIT 1 tells it to only pass back one row.