Multiple choice technology databases

With SQL, how can you return the number of records in the "Persons" table?

  1. SELECT COUNT(*) FROM Persons

  2. SELECT COLUMNS(*) FROM Persons

  3. SELECT COLUMNS() FROM Persons

  4. SELECT COUNT() FROM Persons

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

SQL uses the COUNT aggregate function to return the number of records. Option A correctly uses COUNT(*) which counts all rows including nulls. Options B and C use COLUMNS which is not a valid SQL function, and Option D uses COUNT() without * which is incomplete syntax in most SQL implementations.

AI explanation

SELECT COUNT(*) FROM Persons returns the total number of rows in the table, since COUNT(*) is the standard SQL aggregate function for counting rows. COLUMNS(*) and COUNT() with no argument are not valid SQL constructs.