count(1) vs. count(*)

From: Maurice Samuels <samuels_at_blue.seas.upenn.edu>
Date: 23 Apr 2002 14:27:59 GMT
Message-ID: <aa3r1f$942$1@netnews.upenn.edu>

hi,
can someone explain to me why the count(1) syntax works and is faster than a count(*)? i looked in the oracle docs and while it doesn't specifically go into the count(1) syntax, it does read that the count operator works as follows: COUNT({* | [DISTINCT|ALL] expr})

then in the EXPRESSIONS section of the docs, it reads that an expression can be text, number, etc. i'm just a little perplexed by the count(1) syntax. thanks in advance.
-maurice
samuels_at_seas.upenn.edu Received on Tue Apr 23 2002 - 09:27:59 CDT