Why Are My Database Query Results Unordered Without an 'ORDER BY' Clause?

Understanding Unordered Database Query Results

When you execute a database query without an ORDER BY clause, the sequence of the returned rows is not guaranteed. Contrary to popular belief, the WHERE clause doesn't implicitly define the result order.

The database returns rows in an unpredictable order, which can change from one execution to the next. This is because relational databases don't inherently impose an order on data. To consistently control the order of results, always include an ORDER BY clause in your query.

This behavior is standard across all relational database systems; there's no default sorting mechanism without an explicit ORDER BY. Assuming a specific order without specifying it can lead to unreliable and unexpected outcomes. Always explicitly define your desired ordering.

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