SQLite ORDER BY clause is used to sort the data in an ascending or descending order, based on one or more columns.

Syntax

Following is the basic syntax of ORDER BY clause.

SELECT column-list 
FROM table_name 
[WHERE condition] 
[ORDER BY column1, column2, .. columnN] [ASC | DESC];

You can use more than one column in the ORDER BY clause. Make sure whatever column you are using to sort, that column should be available in the column-list.

Example

Consider COMPANY table with the following records.

ID          NAME        AGE         ADDRESS     SALARY
----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
1           Paul        32          California  20000.0
2           Allen       25          Texas       15000.0
3           Teddy       23          Norway      20000.0
4           Mark        25          Rich-Mond   65000.0
5           David       27          Texas       85000.0
6           Kim         22          South-Hall  45000.0
7           James       24          Houston     10000.0

Following is an example, which will sort the result in descending order by SALARY.

sqlite> SELECT * FROM COMPANY ORDER BY SALARY ASC;

This will produce the following result.

ID          NAME        AGE         ADDRESS     SALARY
----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
7           James       24          Houston     10000.0
2           Allen       25          Texas       15000.0
1           Paul        32          California  20000.0
3           Teddy       23          Norway      20000.0
6           Kim         22          South-Hall  45000.0
4           Mark        25          Rich-Mond   65000.0
5           David       27          Texas       85000.0

Following is an example, which will sort the result in descending order by NAME and SALARY.

sqlite> SELECT * FROM COMPANY ORDER BY NAME, SALARY ASC;

This will produce the following result.

ID          NAME        AGE         ADDRESS     SALARY
----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
2           Allen       25          Texas       15000.0
5           David       27          Texas       85000.0
7           James       24          Houston     10000.0
6           Kim         22          South-Hall  45000.0
4           Mark        25          Rich-Mond   65000.0
1           Paul        32          California  20000.0
3           Teddy       23          Norway      20000.0

Following is an example, which will sort the result in descending order by NAME.

sqlite> SELECT * FROM COMPANY ORDER BY NAME DESC;

This will produce the following result.

ID          NAME        AGE         ADDRESS     SALARY
----------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------
3           Teddy       23          Norway      20000.0
1           Paul        32          California  20000.0
4           Mark        25          Rich-Mond   65000.0
6           Kim         22          South-Hall  45000.0
7           James       24          Houston     10000.0
5           David       27          Texas       85000.0
2           Allen       25          Texas       15000.0