How to randomly select rows in SQL?

I am using MSSQL Server 2005. In my db, I have a table "customerNames" which has two columns "Id" and "Name" and approx. 1,000 results.

I am creating a functionality where I have to pick 5 customers randomly every time. Can anyone tell me how to create a query which will get random 5 rows (Id, and Name) every time when query is executed?

Solution 1:

SELECT TOP 5 Id, Name FROM customerNames
ORDER BY NEWID()

That said, everybody seems to come to this page for the more general answer to your question:

Selecting a random row in SQL

Select a random row with MySQL:

SELECT column FROM table
ORDER BY RAND()
LIMIT 1

Select a random row with PostgreSQL:

SELECT column FROM table
ORDER BY RANDOM()
LIMIT 1

Select a random row with Microsoft SQL Server:

SELECT TOP 1 column FROM table
ORDER BY NEWID()

Select a random row with IBM DB2

SELECT column, RAND() as IDX 
FROM table 
ORDER BY IDX FETCH FIRST 1 ROWS ONLY

Select a random record with Oracle:

SELECT column FROM
( SELECT column FROM table
ORDER BY dbms_random.value )
WHERE rownum = 1

Select a random row with sqlite:

SELECT column FROM table 
ORDER BY RANDOM() LIMIT 1

Solution 2:

SELECT TOP 5 Id, Name FROM customerNames ORDER BY NEWID()

Solution 3:

In case someone wants a PostgreSQL solution:

select id, name
from customer
order by random()
limit 5;

Solution 4:

Maybe this site will be of assistance.

For those who don't want to click through:

SELECT TOP 1 column FROM table
ORDER BY NEWID()