LIMIT 100 OFFSET 50 vs. LIMIT 100, 50 in SQLite: What's the Difference?

Understanding SQLite's LIMIT and OFFSET Clause Variations

SQLite, a widely used database system, provides two ways to limit and offset query results: LIMIT 100 OFFSET 50 and LIMIT 100, 50. While functionally similar, they differ subtly in how they handle the offset.

LIMIT 100 OFFSET 50 skips the initial 50 records and then returns the next 100. This is the standard SQL approach for offsetting results.

Conversely, LIMIT 100, 50 returns the first 100 records and then applies an offset of 50. This effectively returns records starting from the 51st position. This is a less common, SQLite-specific syntax.

The best approach depends on your needs. Use LIMIT 100 OFFSET 50 to retrieve a specific number of records after skipping a certain number. Use LIMIT 100, 50 if you need to offset results from a fixed initial set of records.

Crucially, without an ORDER BY clause, the order of retrieved records is unpredictable, as it depends on the database's internal storage. Always include an ORDER BY clause to ensure consistent and reliable results when using LIMIT and OFFSET.

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