SQL - ORDER BY not working properly?

Question

SELECT test_column FROM test_table ORDER BY test_column gives me this:

1   
12  
123  
2  
3

Why not:

1
2
         


        

Answer 1

The sort is working. It's a lexicographic sort (alphabetical). It appears that that column has a text (char, varchar, ...) type, so the ordering you'll get is textual and not numeric.

If you want a numerical sort, use a numeric column type (e.g. int). (Or cast the column appropriately.)