Re: count(1) vs. count(*)

I've done

SELECT COUNT(*)
SELECT COUNT(ROWNUM)
and even
SELECT MAX(ROWNUM) on tables with 1,000,000+ rows.
No significant difference...

"Daniel Morgan" <damorgan_at_exesolutions.com> wrote in message news:3CC579DE.3833EBA2_at_exesolutions.com...
> Bricklen Anderson wrote:
>
> > uh oh, this discussion again...
> >
> > Maurice Samuels wrote:
> > >
> > > 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
>
> Come on Bricklen, don't just point out the obvious ... stick your neck out
and help him. <g>
>
> Maurice ... search the google archives.
>
> How was that for avoiding a confragration.
>
> One of these days I'm going to insert 100,000,000 rows in a table and try
it out. Anyone have the time and
> incliniation? If so try: SELECT COUNT(*), SELECT COUNT(1), and SELECT
COUNT(ROWID).
>
> Daniel Morgan
>
Received on Tue Apr 23 2002 - 13:01:50 CDT